North Macedonia's pro-Western candidate wins presidential vote

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Stevo Pendarovski, North Macedonia's pro-West candidate, announced a victory over his nationalist-backed rival in a tight presidential run-off Sunday, giving a boost to a government that had divided the public by changing the country's name.

The State Election Commission results based on 99.5 percent of the votes being counted showed 51.7 percent of the votes going to Pendarovski, who is the candidate of the ruling coalition and a long-serving senior civil servant and academic.

"I will be a president for all of the citizens, no matter who they voted for," Pendarovski told a crowd chanting "Stevo! Stevo!" at the ruling party's headquarters, where music and dance erupted after his win.

Stevo Pendarovski celebrates next to North Macedonia's Prime Minister Zoran Zaev (R) after preliminary results during the presidential election in Skopje, North Macedonia, May 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo

"The victory of this concept brings a future for the Republic of North Macedonia and it's our ticket to Europe."

A political science professor who is coordinating the country's efforts to join NATO, Pendarovski has been championing the government's name deal with Greece.

The accord, which was finalized this year and added "North" to Macedonia, ended a decades-old identity dispute with Athens that was blocking Skopje's EU and NATO ambitions.

But it angered segments of the public who felt the move sacrificed the Balkan state's identity.

A woman walks past election campaign posters of the opposition presidential candidate Siljanovska-Davkova and ruling candidate Stevo Pendarovski for the presidential election in Skopje, North Macedonia, May 2, 2019. /Reuters Photo

The opposition-backed candidate, Siljanovska-Davkova, was also critical of the deal. In a speech after the election, she conceded the numbers were "pointing to a defeat."

Pendarovski's win helps steady the course of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev's government, who is hoping that the name change will be rewarded with the opening of EU accession talks in June.

The government also breathed a sigh of relief Sunday to see turnout pass the 40 percent threshold required to make the poll valid.

According to the electoral commission, around 46 percent of a 1.8 million electorate cast ballots, while the presidency is a largely ceremonial role, the office can exercise some veto powers.

(Cover: Stevo Pendarovski celebrates after preliminary results during the presidential election in Skopje, North Macedonia, May 5, 2019. /Reuters Photo)

Source(s): AFP ,Reuters