Local elections in RMV, 309 candidates for 81 mayors

In the local elections in North Macedonia, to be held on October 19, a total of 309 candidates will run for 81 mayoral positions - 80 municipalities and the city of Skopje.

According to data from the State Election Commission (SEC), the candidates are mainly men: 277 (89.6%), while there are only 32 women (10.4%).

Compared to the local elections four years ago, there is a slight increase in women's representation, as out of the 299 candidates at that time, only 25 were women, or about 8.4%.

The thirty-two candidates in these elections come from 24 municipalities, which means that in two-thirds of the municipalities there will be no women on the ballot.

The largest number of candidates is in Prilep: 3, while in Bitola, Veles, Negotino, Qendër, Karposh and Kisela Voda there are 2 each.

Marija Majkic, from the pro-Russian United Macedonia party, is the oldest candidate. She is running in the Gazi Baba municipality.

The newest candidate aiming to become mayor is Andrej Dimitrijevski from Levica, in Old Nagoricani.

Fifty-seven mayors don't want to give up

In most municipalities in North Macedonia, citizens will decide whether the local government will be continued by the same team or by a new one. Analysis of the names shows that in 57 municipalities, the current mayors will run for a new four-year term.

There are also several municipalities where former mayors will try to return, such as Ilinden or Jegunovc.

Orce Gjorgjevski from VMRO-DPMNE, who is currently the mayor of Kisela Voda, will run for mayor of Skopje.

Ministers and MPs in the race for local government

One of Djordjevski's opponents will be Kaja Shukova from the Social Democratic League of Macedonia (SDSM), who served as Minister of Environment during 2023–2024.

Her successor in that position, Izet Mexhiti, who is also a minister and deputy prime minister in the current government, is the candidate of the VELEN coalition in the municipality of Chair.

There he will face former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bujar Osmani, from the Democratic Union for Integration.

Of the current officials, candidates for mayor are the Minister of Social Policy, Demography and Youth from VLEN, Fatmir Limani, in Kicevo, as well as the Minister without Portfolio from the Democratic Forces of the Roma, Shaban Saliu, in the Shuto Orizari municipality of Skopje.

The Deputy Minister of Energy from ONAM, Miroslav Llabudovic, is also a candidate in the Skopje Center municipality.

The ballots will also include the names of several current MPs: Beti Stamenkovska from VMRO-DPMNE as a candidate in Kisela Voda, Skender Rexhepi from the European Front for the city of Skopje, as well as the MPs of the Left – Amar Mečinović and Jovana Mojsoska for the cities of Skopje and Struga.

Skopje with the longest ballot

Without competition, the residents of Skopje will have the longest ballot for mayor.

According to the published list of the SEC, 16 candidates have been confirmed for the city of Skopje.

Three of them are independent, while the others are from parties and coalitions.

There are nine confirmed candidates in Prilep and Struga each. Prilep residents will choose between four independent candidates and five party candidates, similar to Struga residents.

Manastir has eight candidates – three independents and five party members.

Seven candidates will be in Kumanovo, Kisela Voda and Gazi Baba and six in Kocani, Tetovo and Shuto Orizari.

Candidates for mayor and municipal councilors will officially launch their campaign on Monday, September 29th.

They received their ordinal numbers on the ballots by lottery at the SEC.

The first round of voting will take place on October 19, while the second will be held two weeks later, on November 2.

In the first round, the new compositions of the municipal councils are expected to be elected, while the mayor will be considered elected if he wins 50% plus one vote and if at least one third of the registered voters in the municipality vote.

If none of the candidates reaches this majority, then a second round is held, where citizens choose between the two candidates with the most votes.

These will be the eighth local elections since North Macedonia's independence in 1991./ REL