North Macedonia recently held twin presidential and parliamentary elections, resulting in the election of the country’s first woman president, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova. The 70-year-old law professor received nearly 65% support in the presidential runoff, defeating the incumbent Stevo Pendarovski. Siljanovska-Davkova, backed by the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, promised to stand with women and work towards reform. The country’s slow progress towards European Union membership and economic challenges were key issues in the election, leading to the historic victory for the conservative party.
In the parliamentary election, a coalition led by VMRO-DPMNE was ahead with nearly 43% of the vote, while the Social Democrat-led coalition struggled to retain second place. The conservative victory will lead to power-sharing talks for control of the 120-seat parliament. Democrat leader Dimitar Kovachevski conceded defeat and announced he would step down after a new leader is selected by the party. The campaign focused on the country’s path towards EU membership, corruption, poverty, and economic growth, with VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski promising to prioritize fighting corruption in the new government.
North Macedonia has been a candidate for EU membership since 2005 but has faced challenges due to disputes with neighboring countries and slow progress on required reforms. Mickoski’s coalition, “Your Macedonia,” criticized opponents for making compromising decisions in handling disputes with neighboring countries Greece and Bulgaria. The country’s slow progress towards EU membership has been a point of frustration for many residents, with hopes for real progress now that a conservative-led government is set to take office. The election was monitored by over 2,300 domestic and international observers to ensure fairness and transparency.
The election results mark a significant shift in North Macedonia’s political landscape, with the conservative party making historic gains. Siljanovska-Davkova’s victory as the first female president represents a step forward for women in the country, while the incoming government plans to prioritize fighting corruption and addressing key issues such as economic growth and EU membership. The country’s slow progress towards EU membership has been a central issue in the election campaign, with residents expressing hope for improvement in the future. The new government will face challenges in addressing the country’s economic struggles and working towards greater integration with the EU.
