Skopje, 21 August 2025 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski doesn’t rule out the possibility of the election process being faced with issues after independent candidates were allowed to run in the coming local elections with only two signatures by voters being collected since it may increase the number of candidates making the ballot to be long and confusing. If that happens and the elections fail, the government has the constitutional and legal right and ability to appoint trustees in municipalities, he stressed.

The ballot could end up being 7-8 meters long, Mickoski said, which may discourage voters from visiting polling stations to vote.

“I’d like to warn that according to the Constitution and according to the law, if the election process fails, the government has the right to appoint government trustees. Any irresponsible behaviour by individuals and political parties may result in enforcing this measure. Very soon we’ll see,” the prime minister said speaking to members of the media after overseeing works for the construction of a kindergarten in Skopje’s Drachevo. 

Asked when all the candidates for mayors will be revealed, Mickoski responded that all deadlines will be respected, meaning by the end of August or early September.

VMRO-DPMNE, Mickoski added, in the first week of September, from 1 to 5 September, will hold a meeting of the executive and central committee to complete the list of candidates for mayors and municipal councillors as the deadline ends on September 13. 

Photo: MIA