Skopje, 18 March 2024 (MIA) - After the US blacklisted the presidential candidate Stevco Jakimovski on Monday, the State Election Commission (SEC), when asked by MIA if this would affect his candidacy, stated that the conditions for the election of the president are outlined in the Constitution.

According to the Electoral Code, a candidate for the president must meet the conditions outlined in the Constitution. These requirements entail being a citizen of North Macedonia, aged at least 40, and having been a resident of the country for a minimum of ten years within the last fifteen years.

“The Constitution only envisages these requirements for the president of the country. Other conditions are not provided for, neither by the Electoral Code, which refers to the Constitution,” SEC official told MIA.

In accordance with Article 7, Paragraph 1 of the Electoral Code, a candidate for the President of the Republic may be an individual who meets the requirements for the election of the President of the Republic as determined by the Constitution.

"The President of the Republic is elected in general and direct elections, by secret ballot, for a term of five years. A person may be elected President of the Republic two times at most. The President of the Republic shall be a citizen of the Republic of Macedonia. A person may be elected President of the Republic if over the age of at least 40 on the day of election. A person may not be elected President of the Republic if, on the day of election, he/she has not been a resident of the Republic of Macedonia for at least ten years within the last fifteen years," reads the Article 80 of the Constitution.

Shortly after the current mayor of the Karpos municipality, Stevco Jakimovski, submitted his presidential candidacy to the State Election Commission today, the U.S. State Department announced the public designation of several officials from the Western Balkans, including Jakimovski, due to their involvement in significant corruption.

Stevco Jakimovski, running as a presidential candidate for GROM, presented the collected 11,468 signatures for his candidacy in the forthcoming elections to the State Election Commission today. He extended his gratitude to the citizens who endorsed his presidential bid and urged them to support him in the upcoming presidential elections, aiming to secure their backing for advancement to the second round.

The U.S. Department of State announces on Monday the public designation of former Special Chief Prosecutor of North Macedonia, Katica Janeva; current mayor of Karpos, North Macedonia, Stevco Jakimovski; and former mayor of Kacanik, Kosovo, Xhabir Zharku. Their actions undermined the rule of law and the public’s faith in their respective governments’ democratic institutions and public processes.

Photo: MIA archive