In the presidential elections in North Macedonia, conservative candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova clearly had the upper hand over incumbent Stevo Pendarovski on Wednesday. According to preliminary results, the opposition candidate VRMO-DPMNE received 36.99 percent of the votes, Pendarovski 18.18 percent. Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani was close behind with 16.44 percent. Because no one received an absolute majority of votes, a second election will take place on May 8.
Osmani stood as a candidate for the co-ruling Democratic Integration Union (DUI), the party of the Albanians of North Macedonia. As acting OSCE chairman, he had gained significant political status over the past year.
A mutual race for the second election
While Siljanovska-Davkova’s place in the second round was inevitable, Pendarovski and Osmani were in a neck-and-neck race for second place in the second round of voting. According to the state election commission, turnout was almost 49 percent.
Authorities had earlier reported that everything was calm. As expected, voter turnout remained low, even though citizens were given a day off due to the elections. According to the state election commission, turnout was only 12.78 percent at 11 a.m.
Voter turnout only becomes relevant in the second voting round. To be valid, the minimum must be 40 percent. The second election on May 8 will take place at the same time as the general election.
Source: Krone
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