Skopje, 8 May 2024 (MIA) - The State Election Commission (SEC) has released the preliminary unofficial results from the presidential runoff, with VMRO-DPMNE candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova receiving 457,111 votes, while SDSM-backed Stevo Pendarovski garnering 206,407 votes with 84.26 percent of votes counted.

Turnout stands at 46.69 percent.

A candidate is elected president if he/she receives the majority of at least 40 percent of registered votes, namely 362,864 out of the 725,727 votes, as stipulated in the Electoral Code.

SEC will repeat a vote in polling stations where the process was annulled only if the total number of registered voters in those polling stations affects the total result. 

The term of incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski expires on May 12. The inauguration of the new head of state is set to take place in the Parliament, with current Speaker Jovan Mitreski to schedule the session by Sunday.

Photo: MIA