Record number of voters reported by noon in North Macedonia

Voter turnout in this year’s elections for Bulgaria’s 52nd National Assembly is significantly higher among Bulgarians in the Republic of North Macedonia, said Atanas Velichkov, editor-in-chief of the portal Tribuna.mk, in an interview for Radio Bulgaria.

According to unofficial data available to him as of 1:00 p.m. local time, more than 100 people had voted in Skopje alone, and over 60 in Bitola. In the other three polling stations - in Ohrid, Strumica, and Prilep - the number of voters is also around one hundred. In this way, by around noon, the number of voters had already exceeded the 210 Macedonian Bulgarians who had submitted prior applications to vote. Velichkov noted that this is always the case, as most people typically vote by signing declarations on-site stating they will not vote elsewhere.

The journalist emphasized that the organization of polling stations is excellent and no extension of election day is expected due to voters queuing after the official closing time: “The Bulgarian diplomatic services here - the embassy and the Consulate General in Bitola - are fully up to the task.”

According to Velichkov, media coverage in North Macedonia has been more balanced this year regarding Bulgaria’s early parliamentary elections. He also commented that the latest statement by Hristijan Mickoski, who on April 19 attempted to advise Macedonian Bulgarians on how and for whom to vote, should serve as a signal to the authorities in Sofia on how to engage with Mickoski, who describes himself as a “great European”.

Editor: Ivo Ivanov
Editor-in-chief: E. Karkalanova