(MENAFN) North Macedonia is conducting runoff elections Sunday as citizens cast ballots to determine municipal leadership across 33 localities where first-round results proved inconclusive.

Polling stations opened at 7 am local time (0600GMT), welcoming more than one million eligible voters who have until 7 pm (1800GMT) to select mayors and municipal council representatives. The decisive round became necessary after no contender secured the mandatory 50% threshold in the initial vote.

Sunday's contests feature head-to-head matchups between the top two vote-getters from round one.

The capital's mayoral race pits Orce Gjorgjievski, representing the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), against Amar Mecinovic of the Levica Party in Skopje's closely watched election.

Four municipalities—Gostivar, Vrapciste, Mavrovo-Rostuse, and Centar Xupa—will reschedule their votes after failing to meet minimum participation requirements during the opening round.

Approximately 1,600 certified election monitors are deployed throughout polling locations.

First-Round Results: 44 Mayors Secured Seats
The October 19 initial voting round concluded with outright winners in 44 of the nation's 81 municipalities.

The governing VMRO-DPMNE dominated by capturing 32 mayorships, while coalition ally VLEN alliance secured five positions. The National Alliance for Integration (AKI) claimed four seats, and the opposition Social Democratic Union (SDSM) won three municipal posts.

North Macedonia has now held eight local elections since establishing the system in 1996, with the most recent preceding vote occurring in 2021.

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