North Macedonia Holds Local Elections Amidst EU Membership Stalemate

Voters Head to Polls Across North Macedonia

Today, October 19, 2025, citizens of North Macedonia are participating in local elections, marking the eighth such electoral process since the country gained independence. Polling stations, numbering between 3,473 and 3,480, opened at 7 a.m. local time and will close at 7 p.m., allowing 1,832,415 registered voters to elect local leaders. These elections will determine the mayors and municipal council members for 80 municipalities and the capital, Skopje, for the next four years.

A total of 309 mayoral candidates and 577 lists for municipal council members, comprising 10,499 candidates, are vying for positions. In Skopje, 16 candidates are competing for the mayoral seat. Notably, women are significantly underrepresented among mayoral candidates, accounting for only 10.4%.

Elections as a Test for the Ruling Government

These local elections are considered a significant barometer for the strength of the current ruling government, led by the Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization – Democratic Party for Macedonian National Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski. Opinion polls suggest that VMRO-DPMNE is poised to consolidate its dominance, while the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), led by Venko Filipce, is anticipated to face further losses.

The electoral campaign, which officially began on September 29 and concluded on October 17, has been heavily influenced by national issues rather than purely local concerns. Discussions have frequently touched upon the country's stalled EU accession process, identity politics, and minority rights. The possibility of early parliamentary elections following these local polls has also been a topic of debate, with Prime Minister Mickoski indicating it as a potential scenario.

EU Membership Stalemate Dominates Political Discourse

A central theme overshadowing the local elections is North Macedonia's prolonged stalemate in its bid for European Union membership. Despite becoming an EU candidate in December 2005, the country's accession talks have been repeatedly hindered, primarily by a veto from Bulgaria. This blockade stems from demands for constitutional changes to recognize the Bulgarian ethnic minority within North Macedonia.

The EU has reiterated that North Macedonia must meet its commitments under the agreed framework, specifically the constitutional changes, to advance its accession. This ongoing deadlock has fueled public skepticism and frustration, with political rivals frequently trading blame for the lack of progress.

Electoral Process and Observation

To secure a mayoral victory in the first round, a candidate must obtain over 50% of the votes, provided that at least one-third of the registered voters participate. If these conditions are not met, a second round of elections will be held on November 2, 2025, between the top two candidates. Municipal council members are elected through a proportional representation system using the d'Hondt method. The integrity of the voting process is supported by the use of biometric identification devices.

The elections are being monitored by a substantial number of observers. The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) has deployed a core team of 14 experts and 24 long-term observers. In total, 1,462 domestic and international observers have been accredited to oversee the electoral proceedings. The overall budget allocated for these local elections is approximately €9.76 million.