Polls open in North Macedonia’s presidential race

SKOPJE, North Macedonia

The voting process for the presidential election began in North Macedonia on Wednesday, marking the country's seventh presidential race since the small landlocked Balkan nation gained independence from Yugoslavia in 1991.

A total of 3,480 polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (0500GMT), with some 1.8 million citizens eligible to cast their votes.

As part of the election, prisoners, those living abroad, the disabled, and the sick were set to cast their votes on Tuesday.

The election presents voters with a choice between seven candidates, each vying for the presidency and a five-year term in office.

Seven candidates are competing, including incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, Foreign Minister Bujar Osmani, Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, Stevco Jakimovski, Biljana Vankovska Cvetkovska, Arben Taravari, and Maksim Dimitrievski.

If none of the candidates receives more than 50% of the votes in the first round, the two candidates with the most votes will compete in the second round on May 8.

The country's general elections will also be held on May 8.

According to the constitution, for the second round to be valid, the turnout must be over 40%.