Ballots are being cast in North Macedonia to fill the country’s parliament and its presidency in side-by-side elections that could dramatically shape the Balkan country’s efforts to climb out of poverty and corruption and join the European Union.
The nationalist Internal Macedonian Revolutionary Organization-Democratic Party for Macedonian Unity (VMRO-DPMNE) appeared poised for a strong showing after years in opposition, with its preferred presidential candidate riding high after a surprisingly high tally in last month’s first round.
Political analyst Marko Tosanovski told RFE/RL’s Balkan Service that voters appear frustrated that the governing parties have been unable to pull the country out of economic doldrums, high inflation, and pervasive corruption.
“Failures occurred at several levels, but even more so because the citizens didn’t see a quick reaction to correcting these conditions,” Tosanovski said.
The presidential runoff on May 8 pits 61-year-old pro-Western incumbent Stevo Pendarovski against the front-runner from last month’s first-round vote, 70-year-old challenger and retired law professor Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who …
![Kimberly softball set for state final [Video]](https://europenewsvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mp_1042093_0_6648ae6fd9744previewjpg.jpg)
![GRAPHIC WARNING: Multiple Russian strikes on Kharkiv kill at least 11 | REUTERS [Video]](https://europenewsvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mp_1044031_0_0jpg.jpg)
![1 injured in San Francisco morning hotel fire [Video]](https://europenewsvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mp_1031902_0_snapshotjpg.jpg)
![Map shows where heavy rain warnings are in place today | UK News [Video]](https://europenewsvideo.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/mp_1031911_0_SEC203863423ef421715586549jpg.jpg)