Four out of seven hopefuls vying for the presidency of North Macedonia have officially submitted their nominations to the State Election Commission (SEC), marking a significant phase in the lead-up to the forthcoming elections. Among the contenders are the incumbent president Stevo Pendarovski, backed by the ruling Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), Karpoš municipality’s mayor and “Grom” party leader Stevčo Jakimovski, Kumanovo’s mayor and leader of the “Znam – For Our Macedonia” party Maksim Dimitrievski, and Gostivar’s mayor Arben Taravari, representing the Albanian opposition coalition Vlen.
With the SEC’s deadline for submitting nominations approaching, the political landscape in North Macedonia is becoming increasingly dynamic. Notably, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova from the main opposition VMRO DPMNE, Biljana Vankovska of the Levica party, and Bujar Osmani, the foreign minister and DUI party candidate, have also gathered the necessary public endorsements to enter the race.
The official list of presidential candidates will be finalized once confirmed by the SEC members, setting the stage for the election campaign to commence on April 4th. The first round of the presidential elections is scheduled for Wednesday, April 24, with a potential second round on Wednesday, May 8, coinciding with the parliamentary elections, setting a crucial political juncture for the nation.
