Skopje, 25 August 2021 (MIA) – SDSM revealed on Wednesday 16 more candidates running for mayors at the October elections. Four of them are currently serving as mayors in municipalities across the country. The party revealed the names of the candidates for Aerodrom-Aleksandar Filipovski, Karposh-Dushko Veskovski, Prilep-Goran Sugareski, Sveti Nikole-Sasho Velkovski, Tetovo-Hemdi Alezmovikj, Sopishte-Sasho Stojanovski, Jegunovce-Darko Blazhevski, Kavadarci-Goran Todorov, Kratovo-Vlatko Bojkovski, Cheshinovo-Obleshevo-Goran Krstev, Zrnovci-Viktor Angelov, Ilinden-Aleksandar Todorovski, Demir Hisar-Stevche Mitrovski, Novo Selo-Dzvonko Angjelov, Veles-Nenad Kocik, Brvenica-Mitko Stojanovski. “Following intra-party research and consultations with the 82,000 party members, SDSM’s executive board decided to put forward 16 candidates running for mayors,” SDSM secretary-general and election HQ head Ljupcho Nikolovski told a press briefing on Wednesday. In regard to SDSM’s position on forming coalitions, he said that the party has become a bearer of change, inclusivity and openness. According to him, SDSM’s central board includes nine Albanians, Turks, Vlachs, Roma, and members of all other communities. “No other party can say the same. We’re talking with all coalition partners. The party leader has already defined how we’ll support each other with DUI, BESA, DPA and others, in the first or in the second round,” Nikolovski said, adding that it was the first party to announce partnerships. He stressed that SDSM has a huge lead over VMRO-DPMNE due to its policies. “They make the wrong decisions and policies, aware of their upcoming defeat. We’re fully committed to stress the best and reveal candidates for all municipalities. We’ll inform the public about decisions we reach with coalition partners in the upcoming period,” underlined SDSM’s secretary-general. He added that the party is yet to choose candidates for Centar, Strumica, Kumanovo, Kriva Palanka, Shuto Orizari and several other municipalities, but noted that their names will be revealed by the end of the month. Moreover, he told the press conference that instead of running for a second term, current Karposh mayor Stefan Bogoev will be appointed to a position in the executive branch.