The ruling VMRO-DPMNE is leading in the first round of local elections in North Macedonia, according to initial results published this evening by the State Election Commission (SEC) on its website.
As stated (rezultati.sec.mk/mk/mayr/r), with almost 30 percent of the vote and data from 1.191 polling stations out of a total of 3.474 processed so far, mayoral candidates VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition are leading in a total of 52 municipalities.
According to the SEC, the Albanian ruling coalition "Vredi" leads in nine municipalities, the largest Macedonian opposition party, the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), in seven, the opposition Albanian coalition, the National Union for Integration (NAI), gathered around the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI), in six, and the Democratic Party of Turks in one municipality.
The first round of local elections was held in North Macedonia today, electing mayors and councilors in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje.
22 parties, 19 coalitions and 119 groups of voters, or independent candidates, are participating in today's elections, and 1.832.415 voters have the right to vote.
In the second round of local elections, on November 2, mayors will be elected in local government units where they were not elected in the first round.
Opposition SDSM: Numerous irregularities in the first round of local elections
The Secretary General of the opposition Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia (SDSM), Aleksandar Saša Dimitrijević, stated tonight that numerous irregularities and abuses were recorded in the first round of local elections.
"Generally, election day was peaceful, but unfortunately we noted numerous violations of the electoral process, abuse of the voter register, attempts at electoral bribery, direct threats and blackmail, violation of electoral silence through campaigning, and irregularities during the voting itself," Dimitrijević said at a press conference.
As he pointed out, these events require an urgent response from the State Election Commission, the State Prosecutor's Office, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of North Macedonia to ensure accountability and protect the free will of citizens.
He stated that an attempted bribery was prevented in Lozovo, and that in Kumanovo and the Skopje municipality of Đorče Petrov, cases were recorded where a voter was given multiple ballots, including five ballots that the president of the polling station gave to her husband.
In Studeničani, he added, members of the polling station were also on the list of VMRO-DPMNE councilors, and in Prilep and Kriva Palanka, threats and pressure were recorded on SDSM activists and candidates.
Dimitrijević also pointed out other irregularities: the use of municipal facilities for the DPMNE campaign in Negotin, the campaign of people with official vehicles in Bogdanci, the presence of commanders and police chiefs in the campaign in the field, the appointment of candidates' relatives to municipal election commissions, and threats to candidates in Gradsko.
"There was also misuse of personal data for the voting of sick and infirm persons in Jagunovac, as well as obstruction of the work of journalistic teams in Karpoš, Ohrid and Tetovo," said the secretary general of the opposition Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia.
Dimitrijević said that, according to the results obtained so far, SDSM is leading and expects to win in the Skopje municipality of Centar, Kriva Palanka, Probištip, Čučer Sandevo, Češinovo Obleševo, Krivogaštani and Bogdanci.
According to him, there is a close fight in Negotin, Valandovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Rankovci and Lozovo, and in Dojran, SDSM is leading, but there will most likely be a second round.
The first round of local elections in North Macedonia has been scheduled today, in which mayors and councilors in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje will be elected.
In the second round of local elections, on November 2, mayors will be elected in local government units where they were not elected in the first round.
DIK: Turnout 46,65 by 6:30 p.m.
Turnout in the first round of local elections in North Macedonia by 6:30 p.m. was 46,65 percent, the President of the State Election Commission (SEC), Boris Kondarko, said tonight.
He said at a press conference that by 6:30 p.m., half an hour before the polls closed, 803.091 citizens had voted, at 94,62 percent of the polls processed.
For comparison, Kondarko stated that in the previous local elections in North Macedonia in 2021, the total turnout until the polls closed at 7:00 p.m. was 49,98 percent.
According to the SEC, the overall turnout in today's mayoral and council elections in the City of Skopje, the capital of North Macedonia, was 46,64 percent by 6:30 p.m.
By Skopje municipalities, the turnout in Aerodrom was 45,57 percent, in Butel 49,7 percent, Gazi Baba 41,97 percent, Đorče Petrov 45,09 percent, Karpoš 45,92 percent, Kisela Voda 46,25 percent, Saraj 55,2 percent, Centar 49,41 percent, Čair 51.27 percent and in the municipality of Šuto Orizari 35,33 percent.
Among the municipalities in North Macedonia with the highest turnout were Dojran with 72,88 percent, Lozovo 71,98 percent, Rosoman 71,75 percent and Čaška 71,63 percent.
In Bitola, 45,76 percent of voters voted, in Veles 40,06 percent, in Kavadarci 53,33 percent, in Kumanovo 44,84 percent, in Tetovo 46,77 percent, and in Strumica 51,54 percent.
According to the SEC, in three municipalities, turnout was less than one-third of registered voters: Centar Župa 21,3 percent, Mavrovo-Rostuše 28,58 percent, and Vrapčište 21,41 percent.
The first round of local elections was held in North Macedonia today, electing mayors and councilors in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje.
22 parties, 19 coalitions and 119 groups of voters, or independent candidates, are participating in today's elections, and 1.832.415 voters have the right to vote.
In the second round of local elections, on November 2, mayors will be elected in local government units where they were not elected in the first round.
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