According to the State Electoral Commission, only three candidates successfully collected the 10.000 signatures needed to run for President. These include opposition VMRO-DPMNE canddiate Gordana Siljanovska, Stevo Pendarovski – as candidate of the ruling SDSM – DUI coalition and Blerim Reka who is nominated by the two ethnic Albanian opposition parties AA and BESA.

Four additional candidates tried and failed to collect 10.000 signatures. Best known among them is former VMRO-DPMNE official Filip Petrovski.

Candidates now until March 21st to submit their nominations to the SEC and next month they can begin their official campaigns.