North Macedonia Breaks Barriers: Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova Elected First Woman President

In a historic election that reshaped the political landscape of North Macedonia, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova shattered glass ceilings as the nation's first woman president. Her victory, backed by a surge in conservative support, saw the Social Democrats suffer a significant setback in both presidential and parliamentary polls.

North Macedonia has made an extraordinary leap forward in its political arena, electing Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova as its first woman president. The 70-year-old law professor emerged victorious in a presidential runoff, capturing nearly 65% of the vote with over two-thirds of ballots counted.

Siljanovska-Davkova's ascendancy to the presidency is not merely a symbolic milestone but also a testament to the country's evolving political culture. She declared to party supporters, "Is there a bigger change than electing a woman as president?" Her triumph represents a step towards progress and reform, particularly for women in North Macedonia.

Siljanovska-Davkova's victory was propelled by a conservative wave that swept across the country. The opposition center-right VMRO-DPMNE party, which backed her candidacy, achieved substantial gains due to widespread discontent over the country's slow path towards European Union (EU) integration and economic stagnancy.

In the parliamentary election held concurrently, the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition emerged as the front-runner with nearly 43% of the vote. Incumbent Social Democrats, who had governed for the past seven years, struggled to maintain second place with 14.8%.

Incumbent president Stevo Pendarovski conceded defeat after securing just over 29% of the vote. Social Democrat leader Dimitar Kovachevski acknowledged his party's loss in the parliamentary election, indicating his resignation once a new leader is selected.

The significant conservative victory will usher in power-sharing negotiations to control the 120-seat parliament. The VMRO-DPMNE-led government has pledged to prioritize the fight against corruption.

North Macedonia's path towards EU membership, rule of law, corruption, poverty, and economic growth dominated the monthlong election campaign. VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski accused his opponents of mishandling these issues, promising to make progress in these areas.

Despite being a NATO member since 2020, North Macedonia's EU accession process has faced obstacles due to disputes with Greece and Bulgaria. Mickoski expressed confidence in overcoming these challenges, restoring hope for the country's long-awaited EU membership.

Skopje resident Gordana Gerasimovski echoed the hopes of many Macedonians, stating, "We should have been part of the European Union a long time ago... We hope that with time we will get to where we have wanted to be for so long."

The election was closely monitored by over 2,300 domestic and international observers, ensuring the integrity of the process. Siljanovska-Davkova's victory marks a turning point in North Macedonia's political history, paving the way for a more inclusive and prosperous future.