An election official runs a fingerprint authentication of an elderly woman at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
SKOPJE, April 24 (Xinhua) -- North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front.
Representing the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, Pendarovski has said he would be dedicated to leading the country to join the EU.
Challenging Pendarovski's bid for re-election, Davkova, the candidate from the conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, has promised to address pressing issues such as corruption, economic stagnation and delays in institutional reform. The former minister of justice presents herself as a beacon of change, and is deemed more conservative towards the EU accession.
Opinion polls prior to the elections showed Davkova may take the lead in the first round. Since it is very difficult currently for a single candidate to gain support from more than 50 percent of the country's 1.8 million voters in the first round, the contest may head to the second round, which will take place on May 8 along with the parliamentary election. ■
A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
People are seen outside a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
A woman casts her ballot at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)
A man casts his ballot at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, April 24, 2024. North Macedonia kicked off the first round of presidential elections Wednesday, which are believed to influence the country's process to join the European Union (EU).
Seven candidates are chasing the presidency, with major opposition leader Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, 70, and incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, 61, running in front. (Photo by Tomislav Georgiev/Xinhua)