[REVISION HISTORY]

Arkin Jahiji wins Brvenica mayoral runoff

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2026-11-02 20:01 UTC → 2026-11-02 22:38 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Following the death of Mayor Ivica Ilievski in June 2026, extraordinary mayoral elections were held in Brvenica, North Macedonia. After the first round on October 18, 2026, where no candidate secured a majority, a runoff was held on November 1, 2026, between VMRO-DPMNE candidate Stojanche Radichevski and Arkin Jahiji of the National Alliance for Integration (NAI), representing the DUI-led coalition. Preliminary results from the State Election Commission (SEC) indicate that Arkin Jahiji has been elected as the new mayor, securing 4,442 votes (50.36 percent) against Radichevski's 4,177 votes (47.36 percent). The margin of victory was 265 votes. The election saw a voter turnout of 54.29 percent, with 8,820 citizens participating. This result marks a shift from the first round, where Radichevski had initially held a lead. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski reacted to the results by stating his party faced significant opposition and alleged that opponents used “ethnic cards” to influence voters. He noted that while his candidate saw an increase in votes compared to the first round, it was insufficient for victory. VMRO-DPMNE official Dafina Stojanoska and spokesperson Valentin Manasievski further alleged that the VLEN, SDSM, and Levica coalitions acted in favor of DUI during the second round, acting as “Trojan horses” to split votes. In response to these allegations, the VLEN coalition stated that the elections were free and democratic, asserting that “no political party owns the votes of the citizens.” They also criticized calls for ethnic-based voting, arguing such approaches deepen divisions rather than fostering civic progress.

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