site.btaNorth Macedonia’s Election, Anti-Corruption and Audit Bodies Sign Cooperation Memorandum Ahead of Local Elections

North Macedonia's State Election Commission (SEC), State Commission for Preventing Corruption, and State Audit Office have signed a Memorandum of Cooperation ahead of the upcoming local elections in October, the SEC said in a press release on Thursday.

The document strengthens the three institutions’ commitment to direct cooperation, coordination and mutual assistance in the implementation of the rules on campaign financing, the exchange of information and data, as well as timely action in cases of identified irregularities. The memorandum also provides for joint work in the handling of complaints, objections and other procedures of mutual interest, consultations and exchange of experience, as well as the creation and implementation of joint projects.

Special emphasis is placed on transparency in the financing of the election campaign, as well as on joint activities to promote compliance with electoral regulations with the aim of holding free, fair and democratic elections, the SEC noted.

The local elections in North Macedonia will be held on October 19. The citizens of North Macedonia will elect mayors and municipal councillors in 80 municipalities and the capital city of Skopje, with voting taking place across 3,480 polling districts. A runoff for mayoral elections is scheduled for November 2.