Skopje, 31 May 2024 (MIA) - The procedure for extraordinary leadership elections begins Friday at SDSM. The party has scheduled a congress for June 9, during which the party will analyze the reasons for the result at the double elections, while the leadership elections will take place on June 30.

The party officially published Friday an open call for all interested members to submit their candidacies for the leadership position.

“The procedure for submission of candidacies begins 31.05.2024 and will last seven days, until 06.06.2024. All SDSM members who meet the criteria, as well as the high moral and ethical norms, have a right to submit their candidacy. A candidate for leader of SDSM can only be an individual with at least 5 years of membership in the party, who at least once was elected by the party’s congress to one of the party’s bodies,” SDSM said in a press release. 

There are no official candidates for the leadership post at SDSM yet, but several members of the party are seen as potential candidates. Slavjanka Petrovska, MP and Defense Minister, confirmed reports that she will run in the leadership election. The head of the Customs Administration, Stefan Bogoev, also expressed an interest in the position, but he is yet to say if he will launch a bid for the post. Other potential candidates include the head of the Free Zones Authority, Jovan Despotovski, and former Health Minister Venko Filipche.

The elections will be organized by the party’s Central Election Commission, alongside 80 municipal election commissions and local polling station boards.

All party members who actively register can vote in the elections.

The period for active registration has been extended and will run for 20 days. Members will be able to actively register online or through the party’s municipal organizations. 

Photo: SDSM