2021 North Macedonian local elections

Local elections were held on October 2021 to elect councilors and mayors in 80 municipalities and the City of Skopje in North Macedonia. The first round was held on 17 October, while the second round was held on 31 October. The elections were announced on 6 August 2021 by the Speaker of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi. According to the State Election Commission's calendar, the deadline for submitting candidacies for councilor and mayor lists was 11 September 2021. The election campaign lasted from 27 September to 15 October.

Background and elections The Speaker of the Assembly Talat Xhaferi on 6 August 2021 scheduled the local elections for 17 October. In the next day, the State Election Commission set a deadline for submitting candidates until 11 September, while it permitted campaigning from 27 September to 15 October. During the election campaigns, Hristijan Mickoski alleged "corruption of the state by Zoran Zaev and his entourage." Women were underrepresented as mayoral candidates, with only 26 candidates being women (less than 9%), out of a total of 298 candidates.

The first round of the elections was held on 17 October. It was the first election in North Macedonia that utilised biometric fingerprint readers for the identification of voters. In the first round, mayors were elected in 34 municipalities. VMRO-DPMNE won in the first round in 22 municipalities, SDSM won in 9, and DUI in 3 municipalities. The second round occurred on 31 October. VMRO-DPMNE won 42 municipalities. Independent candidate Danela Arsovska, supported by VMRO-DPMNE, became the first woman to lead Skopje since the country's independence, winning against SDSM's Petre Šilegov. SDSM won 16 mayor seats, DUI – 13, and Besa – 2, while DPA and LDP-DOM's coalition one each. Apart from Arsovska, three other independent candidates became mayors. DUI's Tetovo mayor Teuta Arifi was defeated by Besa's Bilal Kasami. Alliance for Albanians' Arben Taravari won a new four-year term in Gostivar. In Kumanovo, Maksim Dimitrievski won as an independent candidate, defeating SDSM's Oliver Ilievski.

Mayoral results Region Municipality Elected Percentage PartyEastern Statistical RegionBerovoDzvonko Pekevski51.25%SDSMČešinovo-ObleševoDalibor Angelov52.93%VMRO-DPMNEDelčevoGoran Trajkovski51.14%SDSMKarbinciViktor Paunov59.40%VMRO-DPMNEKočaniLjubčo Papazov48.29%VMRO-DPMNEMakedonska KamenicaDimčo Atanasovski51.00%VMRO-DPMNEPehčevoAlexander Kitanski51.23%VMRO-DPMNEProbištipDragan Anastasov49.57%SDSMŠtipIvan Jordanov54.22%VMRO-DPMNEVinicaMile Petkov54.74%VMRO-DPMNEZrnovciBorčo Kocev54.54%VMRO-DPMNENortheastern Statistical RegionKratovoTodorče Nikolovski59.92%VMRO-DPMNE Kriva PalankaSaško Mitovski54.75%SDSMKumanovoMaksim Dimitrievski55.30%Independent LipkovoErkan Arifi72.59%BDIRankovceBorče Spasovski51.60%VMRO-DPMNE Staro NagoričaneŽaklina Jovanovska55.58%SDSMPelagonia Statistical RegionBitolaToni Konjanovski50.73%VMRO-DPMNE Demir HisarNikola Najdovski49.75%VMRO-DPMNE DolneniUrim Ibeski51.30%BDIKrivogaštaniNikolče Miskoski50.83%SDSMKruševoTome Hristovski52.70%SDSMMogilaDragančo Sabotkovski57.28%VMRO-DPMNE NovaciStevče Stevanovski51.29%VMRO-DPMNE PrilepBorče Jovčeski54.86%VMRO-DPMNE ResenJovan Tozievski50.06%VMRO-DPMNE Polog Statistical RegionBogovinjeBesnik Emshiu62.30%BDIBrvenicaJovica Ilievski49.09%VMRO-DPMNE GostivarArben Taravari57.79%ASHJegunovceDimitar Kostadinoski50.40%VMRO-DPMNE Mavrovo and RostušaMedat KurtovskiSDSMTearceNuhi Neziri55.87%BDITetovoBilall Kasami54.84%BESAVrapčišteIsen Shabani51.00%ASHŽelinoBlerim Sejdiu49.97%BESASkopje Statistical RegionSkopjeDanela Arsovska54.66%IndependentAerodromTimčo Mucunski55.11%VMRO-DPMNE AračinovoRidvan Ibraimi50.54%BDIButelDarko Kostovski52.79%VMRO-DPMNE ČairVisar Ganiu55.24%BDICentarGoran Gerasimovski51.88%SDSMČučer-SandevoSaško Komnenoviḱ50.73%SDSMGazi BabaBoban Stefkovski60.00%VMRO-DPMNE Gjorče PetrovAleksandar Stojkoski50.24%VMRO-DPMNE IlindenAleksandar Georgievski53.40%VMRO-DPMNEKarpošStevčo Jakimovski49.61%GROMKisela VodaOrce Gjorgievski52.50%VMRO-DPMNE PetrovecBorče Mitevski63.84%VMRO-DPMNESarajBlerim Bexheti73.10%BDISopišteStefce Trpkovski65.03%VMRO-DPMNE StudeničaniAzem Sadiku49.73%PDSHŠuto OrizariKurto Duduš51.26%DOM – LDPZelenikovoKosta Manevski51.64%VMRO-DPMNE Southeastern Statistical RegionBogdanciBlaže Šapov50.70%SDSMBosilovoRisto Manchev58.33%VMRO-DPMNEGevgelijaAndon Saramandov56.88%VMRO-DPMNEDojranAngo Angov53.21%SDSMKončeZlatko Ristov49.88%VMRO-DPMNENovo SeloǴorǵe Božinov51.05%VMRO-DPMNERadovišAco Ristov58.70%VMRO-DPMNEStrumicaKostadin Kostadinov53.70%SDSMValandovoPero Kostadinov57.73%SDSMVasilevoSlave Andonov49.22%VMRO-DPMNESouthwestern Statistical RegionCentar ŽupaArijan IbraimDPTDebarHekuran Duka49.69%BDIDebarcaZoran Nogačeski52.81%Independent KičevoFatmir Dehari52.98%BDIMakedonski BrodŽarko Risteski48.97%VMRO-DPMNEOhridKiril Pecakov54.60%VMRO-DPMNEPlasnicaIsmail Jahoski76.65%BDIStrugaRamiz Merko52.07%BDIVevčaniSpase Kočovski50.41%VMRO-DPMNEVardar Statistical RegionČaškaGoran Stojanovski56.07%SDSMDemir KapijaLazar Petrov49.83%SDSMGradskoKiro Nackov55.66%VMRO-DPMNEKavadarciMitko Janchev72.35%VMRO-DPMNENegotinoGoran Stojanov51.94%VMRO-DPMNERosomanStojan Nikolov53.65%SDSMSveti NikoleDejan Vladev51.97%VMRO-DPMNELozovoBoško Cvetkovski49.94%VMRO-DPMNEVelesMarko Kolev51.63%VMRO-DPMNE

Council results Party SeatsVMRO-DPMNE 468Social Democratic Union of Macedonia396Democratic Union for Integration169Alliance for Albanians82Independents and Others72The Left49Besa Movement36Democratic Renewal of Macedonia – Liberal Democratic Party27Democratic Party of Turks16Democratic Party of Albanians8Citizen Option for Macedonia2

Aftermath Due to the negative results, Zaev resigned from his positions as leader of SDSM and prime minister. There was a motion of no confidence (submitted by VMRO-DPMNE) of the Government of North Macedonia in 11 November, but due to 60 votes, it was not voted out. Minister of Finance Dimitar Kovačevski succeeded Zaev as party leader and prime minister. In March 2022, OSCE stated: "The October 2021 local elections in North Macedonia were competitive and fundamental freedoms were widely respected, but shortcomings in the legal framework underscore the need for a comprehensive reform."

References and notes