Athens, 20 October 2025 (MIA) – Greek news agency ANA-MPA writes that Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s right-wing ruling party won convincingly in Sunday’s first round of local elections in North Macedonia, a report shared by many Greek online media outlets, MIA’s Athens correspondent said.

Some of the headlines in the Greek media read: “North Macedonia: Big Win for VMRO-DPMNE in First Round of Local Elections”; “North Macedonia: New Heavy Defeat for Zaev’s Party – VMRO-DPMNE Wins Convincingly”; “Convincing Victory for VMRO-DPMNE in First Round”; “N. Macedonia: Wide Win for Mickoski’s Party in First Round of Local Elections.”

The articles cite data from the State Election Commission, noting that “VMRO-DPMNE secured wins in several major municipalities in the first round,” and include party leader Mickoski’s view from Sunday’s press conference that it is a triumph, having won in more than 30 municipalities.

“This is a triumph of the people, of the loyal people. Tonight, Macedonia did not choose a party, but a direction; it chose values, it chose people who believe in action, not words,” ANA-MPA reports, conveying the message of VMRO-DPMNE leader.

The news agency refers to SDSM’s poor results and defeat, pointing to Strumica as an example, where former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev was mayor there for 11 years.

“The opposition Social Democratic Party (SDSM), led by Venko Filipche, suffered yet another heavy defeat, following the defeat at the parliamentary elections in May 2024 and losing the power in the country. The loss of its traditional stronghold, Strumica - the hometown of former Prime Minister Zoran Zaev and the municipality he led as mayor for 11 years (2005-2016) – highlights SDSM’s weakening. The VMRO-DPMNE candidate won there convincingly in the first round,” ANA-MPA writes.

In regard to the Albanian bloc, the Greek news agency comments that Vlen is on the rise, while DUI suffered losses, and it gives a detailed analysis of results in around 15 of the 81 municipalities where Albanian from the majority.

ANA-MPA also reports that in the City of Skopje, none of the 16 mayoral candidates was elected in the first round, but ”the VMRO-DPMNE candidate Orce Gjorgjievski is leading by a wide margin and is considered almost certain to be elected as the mayor of the capital city in the second round.”

Photo: Greek media screenshot