(MENAFN) Voters in North Macedonia are casting ballots on Sunday for the second round of local elections, with over one million registered citizens choosing mayors and council members in 33 municipalities where no candidate secured the required 50% in the first round. Polling opened at 7 a.m. local time (0600GMT) and will continue until 7 p.m. (1800GMT).

The top two candidates from the initial round are competing in each municipality. In the capital Skopje, the contest is between Orce Gjorgjievski of the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) and Amar Mecinovic of the Levica Party. Elections in Gostivar, Vrapciste, Mavrovo-Rostuse, and Centar Xupa will be held later, as first-round turnout did not meet minimum requirements. Nearly 1,600 accredited observers are overseeing the vote.

In the first round on October 19, 44 of the country’s 81 municipalities elected mayors: 32 from the ruling VMRO-DPMNE, five from coalition partner VLEN, four from the National Alliance for Integration (AKI), and three from the opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM). This year marks North Macedonia’s eighth local elections since 1996, following the previous cycle in 2021.

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