As the center On Wednesday, despite unprecedented defeats for the ruling SDSM in both the presidential and parliamentary elections, North Macedonia witnessed a dramatic political movement to the right, toward nationalism.
The first female president of North Macedonia was elected on Wednesday, marking a historic moment, although the ruling center-left lost both the presidential and legislative elections by an enormous margin.
In the presidential runoff, 70-year-old Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova—who was backed by nationalist conservatives—came out on top with almost 65% of the vote.
In her post-victory reflections, Siljanovska-Davkova emphasized the significance of this achievement for women and promised to support their reform efforts.
Stevo Pendarovski, meanwhile, accepted defeat after receiving slightly more than 29% of the vote. With the help of the right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party, which capitalized on the public’s discontent with the sluggish
In a political landscape marked by unprecedented defeats for the ruling Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), North Macedonia experienced a significant shift to the right, toward nationalism, in Wednesday’s elections. Despite the ruling center-left party’s setbacks in both the presidential and parliamentary contests, the nation witnessed a dramatic political realignment.
The historic election of the first female president of North Macedonia on Wednesday marked a momentous occasion, even as the ruling center-left party suffered resounding losses in both the presidential and legislative races.
In the presidential runoff, 70-year-old Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, backed by nationalist conservative factions, emerged victorious with nearly 65% of the vote. Her triumph underscores a notable shift in the country’s political landscape, signaling a growing embrace of nationalist sentiments among the electorate.
Following her election victory, Siljanovska-Davkova emphasized the significance of her win for women in North Macedonia and pledged to champion their reform efforts. Her ascension to the presidency represents a milestone for gender equality and empowerment in the country’s political sphere.
In contrast, Stevo Pendarovski, the incumbent president, gracefully accepted defeat after securing slightly over 29% of the vote. Despite his efforts to garner support, Pendarovski’s loss reflects a broader discontent among voters with the ruling center-left government’s policies and performance.
The right-wing VMRO-DPMNE party played a pivotal role in capitalizing on public dissatisfaction and channeling it into electoral success