Skopje, 27 October 2025 (MIA) - With just five days of campaigning to go, parties continue presenting candidates for mayors and municipal councillors in a bid to secure support in the local election runoff. Decisions on coalitions for the vote on Sunday - November 2 are also expected.

VMRO-DPMNE and the coalition attended a local rally in Brvenica on Sunday, where party leader Hristijan Mickoski, among other, expressed regret for the statement made by Vlen's Brvenica mayor candidate Hakim Ramadani, saying it was "a big mistake primarily for the other candidates of the coalition".  

"Imagine what will now happen in Tetovo, Struga, Debar and other municipalities. This is the most selfish move by a politician in the country's recent history, thinking only about himself while disregarding all others in the mayoral runoff," Mickoski told reporters.

He said the issue has been raised with representatives of the international community in recent days.

"They are also in disbelief, to hear someone using that kind of language in the 21st century," noted Mickoski. 

Asked if Ramadani's statement would have an influence on the government coalition with Vlen, the VMRO-DPMNE leader said it would impact his position.

"After he loses the elections here in Brvenica, he will be dismissed from his current post (State Inspectorate on Local Self-Government director)," said Mickoski.

He said all those working for the future of the country, regardless of ethnicity, religion or political party have his and the Government's support.

Mickoski also reiterated on Sunday he does not prefer snap elections, while telling opposition politicians demanding the vote to behave responsibly and "be careful what you wish for". On the possibility of a Government reshuffle after the local elections, he said the VMRO-DPMNE congress would take place in Kavadarci on December 6 and "should be followed closely".

The VMRO-DPMNE election caravan also attended a rally in Skopje's Karposh Municipality on Sunday in support of mayor candidate Sotir Lukrovski, calling on citizens to vote en masse and make this municipality's current mayor Stevcho Jakimovski a thing of the past. 

ZNAM's mayor candidate in the Municipality of Centar Miroslav Labudovikj, at an informal meeting with PM Hristijan Mickoski and Skopje mayor candidate Orce Gjorgjievski on Sunday received open and full support from the coalition partner VMRO-DPMNE for the November 2 vote, the ZNAM Movement said in a press release.

Labudovikj's opponent and current mayor of Centar Municipality, Goran Gerasimovski, said horticultural and landscaping work will be carried out in the second term on the stretch from the Green Market to Macedonia Street.

"We are installing new insulation to prevent water leakage in the underground garages, and the entire area will receive new tiles, greenery on 2,400 square meters, modern LED lighting and urban equipment. We are also installing new children's equipment, a basketball court with a new surface and an irrigation system. There will be no construction of a new street. The space will be fenced and beautified, green, accessible and open to citizens. The deadline for the full completion of the work is May 2026," said Gerasimovski.  

Opposition SDSM, according to leader Venko Filipche, will make its decision on coalitions in the election runoff by Wednesday. Ethnicity, Filipche stressed, will not be a criterion.

"The country's multiethnic character and good interethnic relations must remain a priority. SDSM will make its decision on coalitions and support in the election runoff by Wednesday," SDSM leader Venko Filipche told reporters in the Skopje municipality of Aerodrom on Sunday, urging residents to vote for mayor candidate Aleksandar Trajanovski. 

He added that the party would undergo a leadership reshuffle after the local elections due to the first round results, primarily in some municipalities across Skopje. He noted that the party faced pressure prior to the first round of the local elections - audits, social work centres, vote bribing - all of which have been reported to the competent institutions.

After the registration of sick and infirm voters ended, the deadline for registration of persons in house arrest is set to expire at midnight. These individuals, along with inmates and seniors in retirement homes, will vote on November 1.

The local elections finished in the first round across 43 municipalities, while voting will be repeated in Gostivar, Mavrovo-Rostushe, Vrapchishte and Centar Zhupa due to low turnout.

Photo: MIA