North Macedonia elects first woman president as centre-left crumbles

While North Macedonia marked a historical milestone connected Wednesday by electing its first female president, nan ruling centre-left suffered an unprecedented nonaccomplishment successful some statesmanlike and parliamentary polls.

Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, a 70-year-old rule professor supported by nan nationalist conservatives, won pinch astir 65% of nan ballot successful nan statesmanlike runoff. 

Reflecting connected her win, Siljanovska-Davkova emphasised nan value of this milestone for women and pledged to advocator for betterment alongside them.

Meanwhile, Stevo Pendarovski conceded conclusion aft securing conscionable complete 29% of nan vote. Siljanovska-Davkova gathered support from nan right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party, which banked connected nationalist dissatisfaction pinch nan slow gait of EU integration and economical stagnation. 

Celebrations scotched by thunder and lightning

In nan parliamentary race, VMRO-DPMNE and its conjugation led pinch astir 43% of nan vote, while nan long-standing SDSM-led conjugation struggled to support 2nd place.

However, celebrations successful nan capital, Skopje, were deed by a thunderstorm, causing powerfulness outages. The blimpish landslide triumph sets nan shape for negotiations complete parliamentary control. 

SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski acknowledged his party's conclusion and announced his resignation, clearing nan way for caller leadership.

The predetermination run focused connected North Macedonia's EU accession progress, norm of law, corruption, poorness alleviation, and economical growth.

VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski emphasised fighting corruption arsenic a privilege for nan incoming conservative-led government. The electorate's discontent highlighted nan urgency for accountability and reform.

“Every past personification who committed a crime and committed corruption will beryllium held accountable,” he said. “The group person taught nan authorities its astir important instruction and saved their state ... We person regained dream and coming we person logic to celebrate.”

VMRO-DPMNE has made a comeback aft suffering a awesome rustle to its fame pursuing a bid of scandals by its erstwhile leader, Nikola Gruevski. Gruevski fled North Macedonia successful November 2018 and has been surviving successful exile successful Hungary, dodging respective convictions for corruption, maltreatment of powerfulness and inciting unit against his governmental opponents.

Despite being nan Western Balkan region's early frontrunner to subordinate nan EU, North Macedonia has encountered challenges connected its way to rank since 2005, mostly caused by pushback from its neighbours.

A Greek veto complete nan country's name, followed by different artifact by Bulgaria complete history and connection claims, halted Skopje's negotiations pinch Brussels for decades.