site.btaLocal Elections Campaign Begins in North Macedonia

As of September 29, the official election campaign for the local elections in North Macedonia has begun. The elections will be held on October 19, with a runoff on November 2.

These are the eighth local elections since the country declared independence. According to the State Election Commission, a total of 309 mayoral candidates and 577 lists for municipal council members have been registered, totalling 10,499 candidates.

A total of 22 parties, 19 coalitions, and 119 independent candidates are participating in the elections. The highest number of mayoral candidates is in Skopje – 16.

Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi called for restraint from any form of pressure, use of hate speech, polarizing propaganda, and misuse of public resources during the pre-election period. He added that the political race should be conducted in the spirit of a healthy democracy.

"We do not promise spectacles, nor do we offer lies and flashy programs. We offer achievable, realistic programmes and service in the interest of the citizens," declared SDSM leader Venko Filipce in his speech on Sunday during the presentation of the party’s candidates for mayors and municipal councilors in the municipalities and the city of Skopje.

According to him, there are no better candidates in North Macedonia than those from SDSM (Social Democratic Union of Macedonia) , because the party nominates professionals in their respective fields, and SDSM has learned its lesson from the last parliamentary elections, which it lost.

As key commitments for local governance, VMRO-DPMNE announced priorities such as clean air, green spaces, adequate public transportation, measures for local economic development, and suitable infrastructure — including new roads and maintenance of existing ones. 

The main battle in the Albanian political bloc is expected in the Skopje municipality of Cair, where two coalitions — the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and VLEN — have nominated former Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani and current Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Environment Izet Mexhiti as their candidates for mayor.