North Macedonia's presidential race kicked off, with seven candidates competing for the largely ceremonial post in a two-round vote that concludes in May. Polls show incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski, who is seeking a second five-year term with support from the governing social democrats, in the lead, along with Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, who sought the presidency in the 2019 election. Davkova represents the main opposition center-right coalition, VMRO-DPMNE. The April 4 start of campaigning means the candidates are allowed to make campaign speeches, and hold rallies, with the first round of voting scheduled for April 24. The two leading vote-getters then face each other in a second round, which coincides with a general election on May 8. To read the full story by RFE/RL’s Balkan Service, click here.
