Right-wing victory in North Macedonia signals shift in political landscape after years of social democratic rule

The right-wing opposition in North Macedonia has won the parliamentary and presidential elections, after seven years of Social Democratic rule. The VMRO-DPMNE party received 43.1 percent of the vote and will have 59 seats in the 120-seat parliament. They replace the Social Democrats, who had been in power since 2017, with only 15.1 percent of the vote and 19 seats.

The ruling party suffered a bitter defeat, with Dimitar Kovacevski, their leader, congratulating his opponent on the victory. The new head of government is likely to be VMRO boss Hristijan Mickoski, who campaigned on nationalist themes and promised a confrontational approach to neighboring countries like Greece and Bulgaria. This stance could complicate EU accession negotiations that have recently started with North Macedonia.

Bulgaria has demanded constitutional changes related to its minority in North Macedonia, which could pose a challenge to the country’s EU aspirations. Many voters were disappointed with the ruling Social Democrats due to issues such as poor administration, nepotism, corruption, and an empty state treasury. The economic situation was dire, leading to mass emigration and a loss of qualified workers.

Opposition supporters celebrated the victory in Skopje with car parades, honking horns, and fireworks. In the presidential runoff, VMRO candidate Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova emerged victorious, defeating incumbent Stevo Pendarovski. The political landscape in North Macedonia is undergoing a significant shift with the right-wing party coming to power after a long period of Social Democratic rule.

In conclusion, North Macedonia’s election results mark a significant shift in its political landscape after years of Social Democratic rule. Voters expressed their dissatisfaction with the ruling party through their ballots by choosing a right-wing nationalist party that campaigned on divisive issues.