Macedonians vote in local elections

Source: Beta

SKOPJE -- Voters in Macedonia are casting ballots in local elections on Sunday. There are no major problems so far, authorities have released.

(Beta/AP, file)

The voter turnout was around ten percent until 10:00 CET.
Polling stations opened at 7:00 and voters will be able to cast their votes until 19:00 CET.

The State Electoral Commission has stated that more than 8,500 candidates are running in the elections. 350 of them are running for mayors.

The voting started on Saturday when the sick and disabled and prisoners were able to vote.

Tensions are high in the town of Kičevo. According to the new territorial division, the town has the higher number of ethnic Albanian population thanks to surrounding villages and Macedonian political parties fear that Kičevo could for the first time get an Albanian mayor.

Numerous citizens living abroad, mostly ethnic Albanians from Switzerland, have come to Kičevo in order to vote.

Only several polling stations were not open this morning due to bad weather and inadequate number of ballots, the Electoral Commission told a press conference.

A total of 8,379 local and 410 foreign observers are monitoring the elections in Macedonia.