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22 Apr, 2019 15:24

N. Macedonia heads for presidential election runoff, ethnic Albanian vote may determine outcome

North Macedonia is heading for a presidential election runoff, and the outcome may be potentially determined by an ethnic Albanian candidate eliminated in Sunday’s first vote. The governing center-left party’s candidate, Stevo Pendarovski, and conservative Gordana Siljanovsa will face off on May 5. According to the latest results, released on Monday, Pendarovski got 42.85 percent of the vote and Siljanovska 42.24 percent. Ethnic Albanian Blerim Reka came third with 10.57 percent. He has not said whether he will back either candidate in the May 5 election, AP reports. About one in four Macedonians is ethnic Albanian. Turnout is also crucial because if it falls below 40 percent of registered voters the presidential election is considered invalid and must be held again from the beginning, in two rounds. Sunday’s turnout was 41.8 percent.