In the upcoming local elections in North Macedonia, scheduled for October 19, a total of 309 candidates will compete for 81 mayoral posts — 80 municipalities and the city of Skopje.
According to data from the State Election Commission (SEC), the candidates are overwhelmingly male: 277 (89.6%), while women make up only 32 (10.4%).
Compared to the local elections four years ago, there is a slight increase in women’s representation. At that time, out of 299 candidates, only 25 were women, or about 8.4%. This year’s 32 female candidates come from 24 municipalities, meaning that in two-thirds of municipalities there will be no women on the ballot.
The largest number of female candidates is in Prilep: three. In Bitola, Veles, Negotinë, Center, Karpoš, and Kisella Vodë, there are two each. Marija Majkić, from the pro-Russian United Macedonia party, is the oldest candidate, running in the Gazi Babë municipality. The youngest candidate aiming for mayor is Andrej Dimitrijevski from Levica, in Old Nagoričane.
Fifty-Seven Mayors Seek Another Term
In most municipalities across North Macedonia, citizens will decide whether the same leadership team will continue in power or a new one will take over. An analysis of the names shows that in 57 municipalities, incumbent mayors are running for another four-year mandate.
There are also some municipalities where former mayors are attempting a comeback, such as Ilinden and Jegunovce. For the mayor of Skopje, Orce Gjorgjevski from VMRO-DPMNE — currently mayor of Kisella Vodë — has entered the race.
Ministers and MPs Running for Local Office
One of Gjorgjevski’s challengers will be Kaja Shukova from the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), who served as Minister of Environment from 2023 to 2024.
Her successor in that post, Izet Mexhiti, also serving as Deputy Prime Minister in the current government, is the candidate of the VLEN coalition in Čair municipality, where he will face former Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani from the Democratic Union for Integration.
Other current officials in the race include:
• Fatmir Limani, Minister of Social Policy, Demographics, and Youth from VLEN, in Kičevo.
• Shaban Saliu, Minister without portfolio from the Democratic Forces of Roma, in Shuto Orizare (Skopje).
• Miroslav Labudović, Deputy Minister of Energy from ZNAM, in Center municipality (Skopje).
Several MPs are also candidates: Beti Stamenkovska from VMRO-DPMNE in Kisella Vodë, Skender Rexhepi from the European Front for Skopje, as well as Left party MPs Amar Mečinović and Jovana Mojsoska for Skopje and Struga, respectively.
Skopje With the Longest Ballot
Without competition, Skopje residents will face the longest mayoral ballot. According to the SEC’s published list, 16 candidates have been confirmed for the city of Skopje, three of them independents and the rest from parties and coalitions.
Prilep and Struga each have nine candidates confirmed, with voters choosing among a mix of independents and party representatives. Bitola has eight candidates, Kumanovo, Kisella Vodë, and Gazi Babë each have seven, while Kočani, Tetovo, and Shuto Orizare each have six.
Campaign and Voting Rounds
The official campaign for mayoral and municipal council candidates will begin on Monday, September 29. Candidates have already received their ballot numbers through a draw at the SEC.
The first round of voting will take place on October 19, and the second round will be held two weeks later, on November 2.
In the first round, new municipal councils will be elected, while a mayor will be declared elected if they secure 50% plus one vote, provided that at least one-third of registered voters in the municipality participate. If no candidate achieves this majority, a runoff will be held between the two candidates with the most votes.
These will be the eighth local elections since North Macedonia’s independence in 1991.