The only Macedonian party Macedonian Alliance for European Integration (MAEI), acts as part of a broad left coalition, but with only one candidate for mayor of Pustec while they act on their own all 16 candidate lists for councilors (out of 61 municipalities). The candidate lists in the race for council seat include a total of 200 Macedonians, the largest number ever.
Current Pustec Mayor Edmond Temelko will try to get confidence of the residents for the third time.
MAEI also acts with its own list of councilors in the Albanian capital Tirana, which counsel is composed of 62 councilors and where electoral battle is fiercest. With their vote, Macedonians living in the Albanian metropolis for the first time have the opportunity to have a representative in the council of Tirana. The lead candidate for the Municipality of Tirana, under number 36, is the president of the Macedonian Association Ilinden Nikola Gjurgjaj.
– We are pleased with the atmosphere and turnout among Macedonians. Realistically, we expect a seat in Tirana, where the Macedonians for the first time have the opportunity to vote for their candidate. We also expect a mayor in Pustec and far greater number of counselors compared to previous elections, when we had 11. Chances for council seats are greatest in Tirana, Pustec, Bilish, Golo Brdo, Korcha, Pogradec and other locations – said Nikola Gjurgjaj in a statement for META.
