Macedonia: elections – crucial event for EU access

Macedonia: elections – crucial event for EU access

Polls opened at 7 a.m. and will close at 7 p.m. 

About 1.7 million Macedonians are eligible to vote for 2,700 candidates from 33 parties or coalitions vying for 120 seats in the unicameral parliament.

Opinion polls suggest a close race between Prime Minister Vlado Buckovski's governing center-left coalition and challengers in a country still troubled by ethnic tension. The campaign has been marred by violence between supporters of rival ethnic Albanian parties.

On the eve of the elections, Macedonia's president Branko Crvenkovski urged his countrymen to ensure a fair vote, according to the AP.