North Macedonia Commences Campaign for October 19 Local Elections

Campaign Underway for North Macedonia's Local Polls

The official election campaign for North Macedonia's local elections, set for October 19, 2025, has officially commenced. This 20-day campaign period, which began at midnight on September 29, will run until October 17, followed by a 24-hour pre-election silence before the first round of voting. A potential second round, or runoff, is scheduled for November 2.

These elections mark the eighth local polls since the country's independence and the fourth time mayors and municipal council members will be elected across 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje. Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi officially called the elections on August 9, 2025, and has urged for a campaign free from pressure, hate speech, and misuse of public resources, emphasizing a 'healthy democracy'.

Candidates and Electoral Landscape

A total of 309 mayoral candidates and 576 lists for municipal council members, encompassing 10,490 candidates, have been registered to participate. The electoral contest features a diverse field, including:

• 22 political parties
• 19 coalitions
• 119 independent candidates

The State Election Commission (SEC) has finalized the electoral list, which includes 1,832,415 registered voters. Voting will take place at 3,480 polling stations nationwide, with provisions for 132 smaller stations to be transferred to nearby centers. The overall budget allocated for these local elections is approximately €9.76 million, with two-thirds designated for media and political advertising.

Key Political Players and Campaign Focus

Major political entities, including the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) and the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE), have begun presenting their platforms. VMRO-DPMNE has outlined priorities such as 'clean air, green spaces, adequate public transportation, measures for local economic development, and suitable infrastructure'. SDSM leader Venko Filipce stated that his party offers 'achievable, realistic programmes and service in the interest of the citizens'. The Albanian political bloc is expected to see a significant contest in the Skopje municipality of Cair, involving coalitions like the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) and VLEN.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has deployed an Election Observation Mission (EOM) to monitor the elections, following an invitation from North Macedonia. This mission includes international experts and long-term observers deployed across the country, with a focus on media coverage and campaign finance transparency. The elections are viewed as a crucial test for the newly formed government, following the 2024 parliamentary and presidential elections, and occur amidst ongoing political polarization and recent governmental realignments.