Skopje, 20 October 2025 (MIA) – In Sunday’s first round of the 2025 local elections, VMRO-DPMNE’s mayoral candidates won in 32 municipalities, Vlen’s in five, NAI’s in four and SDSM’s in three municipalities. A second round will be organized in 33 municipalities and the polls will be repeated in three municipalities due to insufficient census.

VMRO-DPMNE’s candidates who were elected mayors in Sunday’s election include Petar Ruzhinski (Berovo), Toni Konjanovski (Bitola), Risto Manchev (Bosilovo), Darko Kostovski (Butel), Slave Andonov (Vasilevo), Spase Kochovski (Vevchani), Marko Kolev (Veles), Boban Stefkovski (Gazi Baba), Andon Saramandov (Gevgelija), Aleksandar Stojkoski (Gjorche Petrov), Kiro Nackov (Gradsko), Ivan Gocevski (Delchevo), Nikola Najdovski (Demir Hisar), Kosta Manevski (Zelenikovo), Aleksandar Georgievski (Ilinden), Dimitar Kostadinoski (Jegunovce), Mitko Jancev (Kavadarci), Viktor Paunov (Karbinci), Beti Stamenkoska Trajkoska (Kisela Voda), Todorce Nikolovski (Kratovo), Stevce Stavanovski (Novaci), Gjorge Bozhinov (Novo Selo), Kiril Pecakov (Ohrid), Borce Mitevski (Petrovec), Aleksandar Kitanski (Pehchevo), Dejan Prodanoski (Prilep), Ljupce Pochivalec (Radovish), Jovan Tozievski (Resen), Dejan Vladev (Sveti Nikole), Jane Micevski (Sopishte), Petar Jankov (Strumica) and Ivan Jordanov (Stip).

Vlen’s candidates for mayors who won in the first round include Daut Beqiri (Arachinovo), Blerim Sejdiu (Zelino), Muhamet Elmazi (Saraj), Daut Memishi (Tearce) and Izet Medxiti (Cair).

Four NAI candidates were elected mayors, including Valbon Limani (Gostivar), Erkan Arifi (Lipkovo), Alija Jaoski (Plasnica) and Suat Shaqirov (Caska), while three SDSM candidates won, including Blaze Shapov (Bogdanci), Sasko Mitovski (Kriva Palanka) and Igor Karaviloski (Krivogastani).

In the second round of the 2025 local elections, due on November 2, voters in 33 municipalities will chose between two candidates who won the most votes on Sunday. 

In the City of Skopje, in the second round, Orce Gjorgievski from VMRO-DPMNE and Amar Mecinovic from Levica will face each other. In Aerodrom, citizens will choose between Dejan Miteski from VMRO-DPMNE and Aleksandar Trajanovski from SDSM. In Brvenica, Jovica Ilievski from VMRO-DPMNE and Haqim Ramadani from VREDI will face off, and in Valandovo they will vote for Gjoko Kamchev from VMRO-DPMNE or Pero Kostadinov from SDSM. In Vinica, the choice is between Mitko Kostadinovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Goce Milevski from SDSM. In Debarca, in the second round, Zlatko Siljanovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Zoran Nogacheski from a group of voters will compete. Demir Kapija will choose between Natalija Dimitrieva from VMRO-DPMNE and Lazar Petrov from SDSM, and in Dojran, Ilija Tentov from VMRO-DPMNE and Risto Dzinev from SDSM will face each other. In Zrnovci, the candidates are Borcho Kocev from VMRO-DPMNE and Pancho Mitev from SDSM. In Karposh, the second round will be determined by Sotir Lukrovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Stevcho Jakimovski from the "Experience for Success" coalition. In Kichevo, citizens will choose between Aleksandar Jovanovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Fatmir Dehari from NAI. In Konce, Zlatko Ristov from VMRO-DPMNE and Blagoj Iliev from SDSM will face each other, and in Kochani – Vlatko Grozdanov from VMRO-DPMNE and Venko Krstevski from a group of voters. Makedonska Kamenica will choose between Dimcho Atanasovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Sonja Stamenkova from SDSM, while in Makedonski Brod, Zharko Risteski from VMRO-DPMNE and Milosim Vojneski from a group of voters will compete.

In Mogila, the second round will be determined by Dragancho Sabotkovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Saso Pivkovski from a group of voters. In Negotino, Marija Naceva from VMRO-DPMNE and Petar Mantev from SDSM will face each other, and in Probishtip – Toni Tonevski from VMRO-DPMNE and Dragan Anastasov from SDSM. In Rankovce, the choice is between Daniel Pavlovski from VMRO-DPMNE and Daniel Krstevski from SDSM, while in Cheshinovo-Obleshevo, voters will vote for Jordancho Kostadinov from VMRO-DPMNE or Gorancho Krstev from SDSM.

In Bogovinje, the second round will be determined by Feti Abazi from VREDI and Besnik Emshi from NAI. In Debar, Fisnik Mela from VREDI and Ramadan Imeri from a group of voters will face each other. In Dolneni, the choice is between Blerim Isljami from VREDI and Sasko Veljanoski from VMRO-DPMNE. In Tetovo, voters will vote for Biljal Kasami from VREDI or Bajram Rexhepi from NAI. In Krusevo, the candidates are Tome Hristovski from SDSM and Niko Čoneski from VMRO-DPMNE. In Lozovo, Aco Velkovski from SDSM and Bosko Cvetkovski from VMRO-DPMNE will compete, and in Rosoman – Stojan Nikolov from SDSM and Gjorgji Krstevski from VMRO-DPMNE. In Centar, the second round will be determined by Goran Gerasimovski from SDSM and Miroslav Labudović from ZNAM, while in Chucher Sandevo, Sashko Komnenovikj from SDSM and Jovan Pejkovski from VMRO-DPMNE will face off.

In Struga, the choice is between Mendi Qura from a group of voters and Arsim Dalipi from NAI. In Shuto Orizari, voters will vote for Kurto Dudush from the Union of Roma or Erdzan Demir from VMRO-DPMNE. In Kumanovo, the second round will be determined by Maksim Dimitrievski from ZNAM and Goran Stojkovski from a group of voters, and in Studenichani – Azem Sadiki from a group of voters and Ejup Abazi from NAI.

A repeat of the first round due to insufficient census will take place in Mavrovo and Rostuše, where Oner Jakuposki (VMRO-DPMNE) and Anes Ahmeti (SDSM) will face off, then in Vrapčište, where Isen Shabani (NAI) and Mehmet Seferi (VLEN) are fighting for the mayoral position, and in Centar Župa, where it is uncertain between Arijan Ibraim (DPTM) and Inat Baki (Party for the Movement of Turks in Macedonia). In the municipality of Staro Nagoricane, candidate Miroslav Slavkovski from VMRO DPMNE won exactly 50 percent of the 99.83 percent of the votes counted, and for now it is uncertain whether he will be elected in the first round or will go to the second round with the second-placed Dalibor Trajkovski from SDSM, who has 23.95 percent.

MIA file photo