In yesterday’s parliamentary and presidential elections in North Macedonia, the right-wing coalition of parties, VMRO-DPMNE, secured a significant victory.
In the parliamentary elections, VMRO-DPMNE secured 43% of the vote and won 59 seats in the 120-seat Parliament, with 95% of the votes counted. The ruling Social Democratic Party (SDSM) received only 15% of the vote, resulting in 19 seats. SDSM, which has been in power for the past seven years, narrowly edged out a coalition of parties led by the minority Albanian party DUI.
The Social Democrats faced repercussions for the sluggish pace of the country’s EU accession talks and lackluster economic growth.
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova made history by becoming the country’s first female president, garnering nearly 65% of the vote.
In contrast, the VMRO-DPMNE leader criticized his rivals for their perceived ineffectiveness and for making what he deemed humiliating compromises in resolving disputes with neighboring countries like Greece and Bulgaria, referring to agreements such as the Treaty of Prespa. He also emphasized that combating corruption would be among his top priorities.
North Macedonia, a NATO member, has sought EU membership since 2005, but Greece and Bulgaria have hindered its progress, as have delays in implementing necessary reforms.
In the last parliamentary elections held in North Macedonia in July 2020, the SDSM, led by Zoran Zaev at the time, won 46 seats, with the VMRO-DPMNE coming in second with 44 seats.
In the concurrent second round of presidential elections held alongside the parliamentary polls yesterday, the VMRO-DPMNE candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova secured a commanding 65% of the vote, contrasting with the 29% garnered by the SDSM candidate and outgoing president of North Macedonia.
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