Presidential elections are underway in North Macedonia, a country striving to join the European Union after years of effort. With seven candidates vying for the largely ceremonial position, the focus of the campaign has been on EU accession, the rule of law, fighting corruption, and reducing poverty.
The latest poll shows opposition-backed Gordana Siljanovska Davkova leading incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski by 3.6 percentage points. Siljanovska Davkova, 70, is supported by the center-right main opposition VMRO-DPMNE coalition.
One of the key issues in the election is how to address neighboring Bulgaria’s demand for recognition of a Bulgarian ethnic minority in North Macedonia’s constitution, a requirement for EU membership. Failure to meet this demand could result in Bulgaria blocking North Macedonia’s accession to the EU.
If no candidate secures over 50% of the vote, a second round of voting will take place on May 8, coinciding with parliamentary elections. The turnout must be at least 40% for the results to be valid.
With 1.8 million registered voters out of a population of 2.3 million, polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. International observers are monitoring the election, and the first results are expected early Thursday.
As North Macedonia continues its journey towards EU membership, the outcome of these elections will have significant implications for the country’s future direction.