Skopje, 19 October 2025 (MIA) – SDSM is leading and expects to win in Centar, Kriva Palanka, Probishtip, Chucher Sandevo, Cheshinovo Obleshevo, Krivogashtani, Bogdanci, said SDSM secretary general Aleksandar Dimitrijevikj at a press conference on Sunday evening.

“Based on current results, SDSM is leading and expects to win in Centar, Kriva Palanka, Probishtip, Chucher Sandevo, Cheshinovo Obleshevo, Krivogashtani, Bogdanci. There are close races in Negotino, Valandovo, Makedonska Kamenica, Rankovce. We are also leading in Dojran and Lozovo, but there will probably be a second round there,” Dimitrijevikj said.

Dimitrijevikj said each of the party’s municipal organizations have recorded better results compared to the previous parliamentary elections.

He said the vote was generally peaceful, but stressed that the party has registered numerous violations, such as abuses involving the electoral roll, attempts at bribery, direct threats and blackmail, violations of the electoral silence period, as well as irregularities during the vote.

“For example, in Lozovo, an attempt at vote-buying was prevented and documented by the Interior Ministry. Similar attempts are being documented in other locations as well. In Kumanovo and in Gjorche Petrov, there were cases where multiple ballots were given to a single voter. In Gjorche, five ballots were handed by the chairwoman of the election board to her husband. In Studenichani (polling stations 2349/1 and 2353), members of the election board were simultaneously listed as council candidates for VMRO-DPMNE. In Prilep and Kriva Palanka, pressure and threats were reported against SDSM activists and candidates,” Dimitrijevikj said.

Dimitrijevikj added that SDSM also noted that a VMRO-DPMNE candidate in Negotino was using a municipal building for campaign purposes.

“We already reacted to the fact that dead individuals were listed in the electoral roll, even on the list of councilor candidates of a coalition partner of VMRO-DPMNE. Commanders and chiefs of police were involved in VMRO-DPMNE’s activities during the campaign. In Zelenikovo and Kratovo, relatives of VMRO-DPMNE mayoral candidates were appointed to municipal election commissions. In Ohrid, Kriva Palanka, and Prilep, VMRO-DPMNE party offices were active and engaged in campaigning during the election silence period. In Gradsko, candidate Kiro Nackov issued threats toward election board members, while in Jegunovce, there was misuse of personal data for voting on behalf of sick and infirm persons,” Dimitrijevikj said.

He also recalled that several cases concerning the obstruction of the work of journalists were reported on election day in Karposh, Ohrid, and Tetovo.

“These incidents warrant an urgent reaction from the State Election Commission, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the Interior Ministry in order to ensure accountability, to protect the citizens’ free will and guarantee fair and democratic elections,” Dimitrijevikj said, adding that SDSM's legal team is preparing the reports that will be filed to the relevant institutions.

Photo: MIA