(ANSA-AFP) - SKOPJE, APR 24 - Voters in North Macedonia
headed to the polls Wednesday for the first in a series of
elections that could decide whether the diverse Balkan country
will ever join the European Union. Voters are casting ballots in
the first round of a presidential election, followed in two
weeks by a presidential run-off and a parliamentary poll. The
elections come amid a two-year standoff between the government
and the opposition over how to deal with neighbouring Bulgaria
blocking its path to EU membership. Relations between Sofia and
Skopje have been strained for years by bitter disputes over the
two countries' similar languages and history. Sofia has refused
to back the opening of accession talks between Skopje and the EU
until North Macedonia recognises its tiny Bulgarian minority in
the constitution. President Stevo Pendarovski and the ruling
centre-left Social Democrats (SDSM) are prepared to make the
amendments but lack the numbers to win a parliamentary vote. The
opposition VMRO-DPMNE party refuses to budge, saying any
constitutional changes can come after North Macedonia joins the
EU, a stance the government says is unrealistic. Wednesday's
first round of the presidential vote puts the two opposing views
on the ballot, with Pendarovski in danger of being unseated by
Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, who is backed by the right-wing
VMRO-DPMNE. Polls opened at 7:15 am local time (ANSA-AFP).
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