Run-Off Elections in North Macedonia: Mayoral Contests and Voter Turnout

Strategic Insights -

The cities of North Macedonia, including Skopje, are set to hold run-off elections on Sunday, following the first round of local elections on October 19. In 33 municipalities, mayors are to be elected, while four locations will repeat the elections in full due to insufficient voter turnout. The opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has called for mass voter turnout on Sunday to "continue the decline of support for the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE)". The SDSM, however, will not endorse any specific candidate in municipalities where it is not in the run-off.

Key Takeaways:

  • In the first round, mayors were elected in 44 municipalities, but in four locations, the elections will be repeated in full due to insufficient voter turnout.
  • According to the country's legislation, if fewer than one-third of registered voters participate in local elections, the elections are considered invalid and must be repeated.
  • In Skopje, Centre and Karpos boroughs, Kocani, Kicevo, Tetovo, and Struga mayoral results are expected with particular interest, with some candidates heading to run-off with a large lead from the first round.
  • The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) Chair Venko Filipce has called for mass voter turnout on Sunday, while not endorsing any specific candidate in municipalities where it is not in the run-off.
  • The SDSM's main focus is to "continue the decline of support for the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization - Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE)".
  • The VMRO-DPMNE and Vlen Coalition, coalition partners in the government, will support each other in Kicevo and Tetovo against their opponents from the National Alliance for Integration (NAI).
  • In Tetovo, candidates from the two Albanian blocs will face off, with the margin between them in the first round being fewer than 4,000 votes in favour of the current mayor, Bilal Kasami.

Statistics:

  • 44 municipalities held mayoral elections in the first round.
  • 33 municipalities will hold mayoral run-off elections on Sunday.
  • 4 locations will repeat the elections in full due to insufficient voter turnout.
  • In Skopje, Centre and Karpos boroughs, Kocani, Kicevo, Tetovo, and Struga mayoral results are expected with particular interest.
  • The margin between mayoral candidates in Tetovo in the first round was fewer than 4,000 votes in favour of the current mayor, Bilal Kasami.
  • The SDSM Chair Venko Filipce has called for mass voter turnout on Sunday.

Sources:

  • [Opposition Leader Calls for Voter Turnout in North Macedonia Run-Off Elections](https://www.balkaninsight.com/en/article/opposition-leader-calls-for-voter-turnout-in-north-macedonia-run-off-elections)
  • [North Macedonia Local Elections: Final Results](https://www.setimes.com/cf/news/item/128813/north-macedonia-local-elections-final-results)