Skopje, 30 July 2021 (MIA) – Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi will schedule local elections on August 6, which are set to take place on October 17, 2021 in accordance with the law. According to Article 16 of the Electoral Code, mayors and municipal councilors have a four-year term. Since the 2017 local elections took place on October 15, it means their terms end by October 17 this year, which cannot be prolonged in line with the law and the Constitution, only in the event of state of emergency or martial law, explained Xhaferi. “Terms can be shorter, but they cannot be prolonged. Since more than a half of the mayors in the second round (in 2017) got a term, to be more precise 46 municipalities including the City of Skopje, it means that more than half will see their term expiring by October 18,” he said on Friday. According to the Electoral Code, at least 70 days, or up to 90 days, should pass from the day elections are scheduled until election day. “This is the period when the State Election Commission (SEC) launches its election-related activities. Thus, August 6 is the final day when local elections should be scheduled before election-related deadlines are activated for the parties involved,” the Speaker told a press briefing. Asked about amendments to the Electoral Code, Speaker Xhaferi fell short of saying whether they will pass before MPs go on summer recess as of August 1. “The Committee for Political System should finish the amendments. More than 700 have been filed,” he said. Parliament is expected to convene again on September 13 or 14 after the summer recess.