Clear victory for the candidate of the opposition VMRO-DPMNE in the first round

He won a clear victory in yesterday’s first round of the presidential elections the candidate of the right-wing opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, the Gordana Silianowskawinning with twice the percentage of her main rival, the candidate of the ruling Social Democratic Party (SDSM) and outgoing president of North Macedonia, Stevo Pendarovski.

According to the results announced by National Electoral Commission of the country, with 92% of the votes counted, Gordana Silianovska gathers 40%, while Stevo Pendarovski only 20% of the votes.

Third comes the candidate of the co-ruling Albanian party DUI and Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani (13.6%) and fourth the candidate of the coalition of four opposition Albanian parties Arben Taravari (9.6%).

Seven candidates participated in the first round of the presidential elections. In order for a president of the Republic of North Macedonia to be elected in the first round, it is required to secure more than 50% of the entire electorate in the country, which was considered completely unlikely to happen from the beginning. Therefore, a second round will be held, between the two winners of the first.

The second round, featuring 70-year-old Gordana Silianovska and 60-year-old Stevo Pendarovski, will take place in two weeks’ time (May 8) – at the same time as Parliamentary Elections.

Gordana Silianovska in her statements late last night spoke of an “excellent result”.

“I am proud of the citizens, not only of those who voted for me, but also of the rest, I am especially proud of the members of VMRO-DPMNE and their support,” Mrs. Silianovska noted.

Stevo Pendarovski admitted that the result was not what he wanted, but added that he will try for the upset in the second round.

His leader VMRO-DPMNE Christian Mickoski he spoke of a “political tsunami” in the country and expressed confidence that Gordana Silianovska will be the new president, while his party will score a “huge” victory in the parliamentary elections and form the next government.

SDSM leader Dimitar Kovacevsky acknowledged that the result of yesterday’s election was not what his party expected. Mr. Kovacevsky estimated that the voters punished the ruling faction for its mistakes and failures, while he judged that the result “at the same time is a blow to the country’s European perspective.”

Political analysts at Skopje comment that the highlight of the first round of the presidential election was the margin of victory of VMRO-DPMNE candidate Silianovska, which exceeded even the most optimistic predictions of the main opposition faction itself and is almost impossible to overturn in the second round.

They also consider that the result of yesterday’s elections sends a message of “disapproval” to the ruling Social Democratic Party, which after his departure Zoran Zaev from his leadership it flows. In parliamentary elections on May 8, the SDSM risks a crushing defeat, they add.

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