Skopje, 19 October 2025 (MIA) – Today’s local elections unfolded in a peaceful, fair, and democratic atmosphere without a single serious incident or disturbance of public order, said Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski at a press conference Sunday after polls closed across the country.

Toshkovski said the institutions demonstrated a high level of functionality and responsibility.

“Today we showed that when the institutions are functioning, democracy is assured,” the Minister said, adding that he can say with pride that these elections were some of the most peaceful and secure elections in recent history.

He thanked the police officers who, he said, carried out their duties responsibly, professionally, and without a single oversight, ensuring the conditions for the citizens to freely exercise their democratic right to vote.

Toshkovski said the vote began on time at all polling stations except for number 84 where technical issues caused delays of up to two hours. The Ministry also registered 29 interruptions in voting, lasting between fifteen and thirty minutes, mostly due to problems with the biometric identifications, which, he said, were promptly resolved. Most such cases occurred in the jurisdictions of the police in Tetovo and Ohrid.

Throughout the day, the Minister said 91 incidents were registered across the country, the majority related to campaigning and possible vote-buying, and some involving the photographing of ballots.

“Following the measures taken, proceedings for 42 of the reported cases have concluded, and in most instances, the allegations were not confirmed,” he said, adding that investigations into the remaining cases continue in coordination with the Prosecutor’s Office and other relevant bodies.

Eleven individuals were detained on election day – some for bribery, others for photographing or damaging ballots. Four of them, Toshkovski added, have already been released, while seven remain in custody for further proceedings. The Minister also said seven incidents were reported with alleged police officer involvement, with six found to be without irregularities, while one case is under further investigation.

The Cybercrime Sector, he added, recorded 19 social media and online posts related to the elections, which are subject to ongoing review.

“All these reports confirm that today’s electoral process unfolded in a peaceful, fair, and democratic atmosphere. This is the result of timely coordination and professionalism across all structures of the Interior Ministry,” the Minister said, adding that “today we saw the image of a safe and democratic country that has proven it knows how to conduct elections that befit it”.

In answer to a journalist’s question regarding an individual detained today in the Municipality of Chair, Toshkovski confirmed that one of the two detained individuals is an employee of the State Election Commission, but was not performing official duties at the time of the incident.

“The individual was detained for refusing to identify himself before an authorized official,” Toshkovski said.

Photo: MIA