Macedonia Runs Peaceful Presidential Elections

Macedonia's elections are running without violence Sunday. Photo by washingtontimes.com

Former Yugoslav republic of Macedonia is voting Sunday in the second round of presidential elections.

Macedonians must select between frontrunner Gjorgje Ivanov from the governing party VMRO-DPMNE and Ljubomir Frckoski, who is backed by the main opposition Social Democratic party, SDSM. President Branko Crvenkovski is not seeking a second term.

The polls are calm unlike the parliamentary vote last year, which was marred by violence, with one person shot dead and several others wounded in the ethnic Albanian area.

The Bulgarian news agency, BGNES, reports that around 2:00 pm Bulgarian time, nearly 20% of the voters have casted their choice, which is a significantly lower turnout than the first round - over 26% at the same time of the day.

A mandatory 40% of the voters must go to the polls Sunday in order to validate the elections. In case of a lower turnout, the Macedonian Election Act requires organizing new presidential elections with a first and second round.

Some 1,8m people are eligible to vote in the election.

During the first round, the voters' turnout was nearly 57%.

The vote is considered to be important in helping to move the country towards European Union and NATO membership.

 

We need your support so Novinite.com can keep delivering news and information about Bulgaria! Thank you!