Skopje, 3 March 2024 (MIA) - SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski sought Sunday the support from delegates at the 27th Congress over the candidacy for Stevo Pendarovski's second presidential term.

Kovachevski said Pendarovski has a clear vision for the country's prosperity and its integration in the European Union.

"During his term, he showed the true meaning of a president of all. During his first term, the country joined NATO. During his second term, the country will join the EU," said Kovachevski.

He added that over 20,000 signatures were collected for Pendarovski's candidacy during the day, saying they have refuted "all critics and sceptics who say SDSM is not the best option for the country."

"This has confirmed in the best possible way what I have been saying for two years - that SDSM is the strongest, biggest and most organized party in the country," said Kovachevski.

Kovachevski's address is followed by a working part of the congress, after which the presidential candidate will address the delegates.

After announcing his candidacy on Friday, Pendarovski secured the required 10,000 citizens' signatures earlier today, with his Office saying they were collected in less than five hours.

Pendarovski was the President's National Security Advisor between 2001-2004, SEC chairman (2004-2005), President's Foreign Policy Advisor (2005-2009), university professor, MP (2016-2017), and National NATO Coordinator (2017-2019).

This will be Pendarovski's third presidential campaign. Back in 2014, he lost to former president Gjorge Ivanov, but beat VMRO-DPMNE-backed Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova five years later. He will again face Siljanovska-Davkova, who was overwhelmingly supported by VMRO-DPMNE delegates at the party convention on Saturday.

Five other candidates have already collected the citizens' signatures - Maksim Dimitrievski of ZNAM, Bujar Osmani of DUI, Stevcho Jakimovski of GROM, Arben Taravari of opposition alliance "Worth It", and Biljana Vankovska of Levica.

The first round of the presidential elections will take place on April 24, with the runoff slated for May 8, held in parallel with the parliamentary elections.