Voters in North Macedonia had another chance to give an opinion on their country's new name as they cast ballots in a presidential election Sunday that was seen as a key test for the center-left government that negotiated the name change to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece.
Three university professors were vying for the largely ceremonial presidency. Outgoing President Gjorge Ivanov, who couldn't seek re-election due to term limits, tried to derail or delay the deal with Greece. North Macedonia previously was known as Macedonia.
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Voters in North Macedonia had another chance to give an opinion on their country's new name as they cast ballots in a presidential election Sunday that was seen as a key test for the center-left government that negotiated the name change to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece.
The deal emerged as the main campaign issue of Sunday's presidential. The candidate who was backed by the main conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE party has vowed to challenge the agreement in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Blerim Reka, a presidential candidate supported by two small ethnic Albanian political parties, expressed hope that North Macedonia will "prove that is ready for the start of the accession talks with the European Union."
More than 3,000 domestic and about 420 international observers were monitoring the election.
"I expect the situation to change for us young people and also changes in the country, our living conditions to improve and to go forward toward European Union and NATO," Kocevski said.
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, a presidential candidate for the opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, talks to the media outside a polling station, after voting in the presidential elections, in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, center, a presidential candidate for the opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, accompanied by her husband Blagoja and daughter Marija leaves a polling station after voting in the presidential elections, in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
A man looks at his ballot behind a voting booth at a polling station, during the presidential elections in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
The name change, which took effect in February, put the former Yugoslav republic on the path to membership in NATO and the European Union. Greece had blocked the move for decades, asserting sole rights to the Macedonia name.
A couple cast their ballots for the presidential election at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. Polls were opened early on Sunday in North Macedonia for presidential elections seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
The deal emerged as the main campaign issue of Sunday's presidential. The candidate who was backed by the main conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE party has vowed to challenge the agreement in the International Court of Justice in The Hague.
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, a vocal opponent of the name deal, said that as a constitutional law professor who is devoted to the rule of law, she would "respect" the agreement, but also "will do my best to show that some of the solutions are against Macedonia's Constitution and against...the norms of the United Nations."
Stevo Pendarovski, the joint candidate of the ruling Social Democrats and 30 other parties, told reporters after he voted in the capital of Skopje that he expects North Macedonia to become a full member of NATO and the EU. He said he is a strong supporter of the deal with Greece that "fully preserves the national interest of both countries."
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, a presidential candidate for the opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, casts her ballot for the presidential elections at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
Blerim Reka, a presidential candidate supported by two small ethnic Albanian political parties, expressed hope that North Macedonia will "prove that is ready for the start of the accession talks with the European Union."
More than 3,400 polling stations opened at 7 a.m. local time (0500 GMT) and will close at 7 p.m. (1700GMT). By 1 p.m., turnout of the country's 1.8 million registered voters was 20.45%, election authorities said. The public referendum on the name change also had low turnout.
A candidate needs 50% plus one vote to win the election outright. Heading into Sunday's vote, a May 5 runoff was seen as all but certain.
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, a presidential candidate for the opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, talks for the media outside a polling station, after voting for the presidential elections, in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
More than 3,000 domestic and about 420 international observers were monitoring the election.
North Macedonia's struggles include a stagnant economy, more than 20% unemployment and pervasive corruption. At least 400,000 people, most of them young, have left the country in the past decade.
Some residents hope for something better. Voter Stefan Kocevski said he expects the election to bring "positivity and change."
Stevo Pendarovski, left, a presidential candidate of the ruling coalition led by the Social Democrats and his wife Elizabeth Gjorgievska cast their ballots for the presidential elections at a polling station in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
"I expect the situation to change for us young people and also changes in the country, our living conditions to improve and to go forward toward European Union and NATO," Kocevski said.
Stevo Pendarovski, presidential candidate of the ruling coalition led by the Social Democrats, talks to the media outside a polling station after voting in the presidential election in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, a presidential candidate for the opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, talks to the media outside a polling station, after voting in the presidential elections, in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, center, a presidential candidate for the opposition conservative VMRO-DPMNE party, accompanied by her husband Blagoja and daughter Marija leaves a polling station after voting in the presidential elections, in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
A man looks at his ballot behind a voting booth at a polling station, during the presidential elections in Skopje, North Macedonia, Sunday, April 21, 2019. North Macedonia holds the first round of presidential elections on Sunday, seen as key test of the government following deep polarization after the country changed its name to end a decades-old dispute with neighboring Greece over the use of the term "Macedonia". (AP PhotoBoris Grdanoski)
