Skopje, 2 October 2025 (MIA) - Candidates running for mayors in the October local elections on Thursday, day four of the election campaign, will present their programs in rallies and meetings with citizens.

VMRO-DPMNE will hold rallies in Karbinci, Cheshinovo Obleshevo, Zrnovci, and Vinica. 

SDSM will hold rallies in Studenichani, Zelenikovo, Kisela Voda, and Aerodrom.  

VMRO-DPMNE's candidate for Skopje mayor, Orce Gjorgjievski, will hold a press conference at Skopje's Hipodrom at noon (https://maps.app.goo.gl/V6U7q5sxWefYghmx9?g_st=ipc).

SDSM leader Venko Filipche and the party's mayoral candidate Martin Kostovski will meet with citizens in Kumanovo. The SDSM leader will give a statement to the media in downtown Kumanovo. 

SDSM’s candidate for Skopje mayor, Kaja Shukova, will hold a press conference at the party's headquarters, presenting top 20 projects within her program. 

Vlen's incumbent mayor who seeks reelection to Tetovo Municipality, Bilal Kasami, will hold a press conference in downtown Tetovo at 1 p.m. 

The Workers' Party will promote in Trubarevo its Gazi Baba mayoral candidate Tone Dimkovski and list principal Vojo Petreski. 

The local election campaign, which began on Monday, ends on October 17 before a 24-hour election silence starts on the eve of the October 19 elections. The second round of this year’s local elections takes place on November 2. 

According to the Electoral Code, Article 69a, “an election campaign is considered a public gathering and other public events organized by a participant in the election campaign, public display of posters, video presentations in public places, election media and online presentation, distribution of printed materials and public presentation of candidates confirmed by the competent election authorities and their programs.”

The 2025 local elections are the eighth elections since the country declared independence in 1991 and fourth elections for mayors and councillors in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje.

309 mayoral candidates and 576 list of candidates for members of municipal councils – a total of 10,490 candidates – will be vying in the elections. Votes will be cast in 3,480 polling stations.

22 parties, 19 coalitions and 119 independent candidates will participate. A total of 16 candidates run for Skopje mayor.

Photo: MIA archive