Presidential candidates commit to fair, democratic elections in North Macedonia

All three candidates running for presidential elections in North Macedonia signed a code, in which they committed to fair and democratic elections, at an activity organized by the State Election Commission (SEC) on Sunday.

Blerim Reka, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and Stevo Pendarovski will officially start their campaign for the 6th presidential election on Monday.

Reka, an independent candidate backed by the Alliance for Albanians and Besa party in North Macedonia, said that he expected fair presidential elections that could open a new page in the history of elections in North Macedonia.

"The country faces with a new challenge, so it is not important who could win the elections as it is to have legal and regular election results, which could help ensure a date for opening the accession talks with the European Union," Reka said.

Siljanovska-Davkova, the candidate backed by the largest opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, said that she did not see her opponents as enemies.

"Even though I am a woman, I expect a chivalrous battle, and I hope the citizens would have the final say," Siljanovska-Davkova said.

Stevo Pendarovski, the candidate nominated by the ruling Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) party, said that the signing of the Code has finally become an undisputable practice in North Macedonia.

"I am convinced that the three of us will do our best to ensure a democratic battle," Pendarovski said.

North Macedonia will hold presidential elections on April 21. The presidential campaign will last until April 19 and there will be electoral silence before the voting day.