site.btaNorth Macedonia Celebrates Independence Day on Sept. 8

The Republic of North Macedonia celebrates Independence Day on September 8.

During the period of the dissolution of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, on January 25, 1991, the first multi-party parliament in Skopje adopted a Declaration of Independence, beginning the process of proclaiming independence, which included the referendum of September 8 of the same year. 

With a voter turnout of 75.7%, more than 96% of the citizens who voted in the referendum responded positively to the question: “Are you in favour of a sovereign and independent state of Macedonia, with the right to enter into a future union of sovereign states of Yugoslavia?” 

After the closing of the polling stations, under the slogan “A Vote for Macedonia,” citizens spontaneously gathered at the central square in Skopje, where the initial voting results were announced. Kiro Gligorov, who would later become the first president of the Republic of Macedonia, addressed the crowd with similar gatherings held across the country. 

Independence was declared on November 17, 1991, with a decision of the country's parliament and the process of separation from Yugoslavia began. 

Bulgaria was the first country to recognize the new state under its constitutional name, the Republic of Macedonia, on January 15, 1992. 

In 2025, festivities will include laying flowers at the graves of presidents Kiro Gligorov and Boris Trajkovski, as well as the country’s first prime minister Nikola Kljusev. Then, an official commemoration will be held at which Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski will deliver a speech.