"Although the elections are meant to focus on municipal issues, the campaign has been dominated by national questions: identity, minority rights, and the stalled EU accession process. In the capital, Skopje, pressing local challenges remain unresolved. The city of about 520,000 people still lacks a wastewater treatment plant and has no public transport alternatives to buses. The next mayor will also need to adopt a long-delayed "General Urban Plan for 20222032" and oversee preparations for "Skopje European Capital of Culture 2028.""
"Political rivals have spent much of the campaign trading blame over who is responsible for the deadlock in North Macedonia's EU membership negotiations. The country became an EU candidate in December 2005, but nearly two decades later it remains stuck at the start of the process blocked by Bulgaria and having held only the first intergovernmental conference, which opens accession negotiations."
""If we achieve national consensus and work intensely on reforms, no one and nothing will be able to stop us on the way to the EU," Filipce said."
Voters across North Macedonia will head to the polls in local elections that test the ruling government's strength and public patience over a prolonged EU membership blockade. Municipal campaigns have been overshadowed by national issues such as identity, minority rights, and stalled EU accession negotiations. Skopje faces unresolved infrastructure challenges including the absence of a wastewater treatment plant and limited public transport options, and requires adoption of a delayed 2022–2032 urban plan plus preparations for European Capital of Culture 2028. Political rivals trade blame over responsibility for the EU accession deadlock.
Read at www.dw.com
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