The opposition won the big cities in the local elections
Zoran Zaev has resigned as prime minister of the Republic of Northern Macedonia. In a special address after the second round of local elections, he congratulated the opposition on the victory and announced that he was dissolving the government and ceasing to be the leader of the Social Democratic Union (SDSM).
“I personally take responsibility for the loss. I personally believe that there is no need for early parliamentary elections. We have two and a half years ahead of us. There is a possibility of forming a progressive majority,” Zaev said.
According to him, during his rule, he has established good relations with all neighbors of RS Macedonia and managed to bring the country into NATO, with a real chance that it will start negotiations for EU membership.
Earlier today, Zaev’s ruling Social Democratic Union lost the mayoral battle in the capital, Skopje, and a number of other cities.
The current mayor of Skopje, Petre Shilegov, lags far behind Danela Arsovska, who received 57% of the vote, backed by the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party.
The candidates of VMRO-DPMNE also won in Ohrid and Bitola. In these two cities, turnout today was over 60 percent.
Ali Ahmeti’s Democratic Union for Integration lost in Tetovo and Gostivar, which were considered his “fortresses”. DUI was the main coalition partner in Zaev’s government.
Polling stations where citizens of the Republic of Northern Macedonia could vote in the second round of local elections were closed at 7 p.m.
According to the SEC, the turnout by 6:30 pm was 48.88%. In the second round of the local elections on Sunday, the citizens of RN Macedonia voted for mayors in a total of 44 municipalities in 2,481 polling stations. In these municipalities, 1,353,990 voters had the right to vote.
