North Macedonia Election polls, voting intention polls and current polling numbers

North Macedonia is facing economic pressure but is navigating with renewed momentum. Although annual inflation dropped to 3.4% in June, the cost of living remains high for many, as the average income of around €669 is tight. The recently reshuffled government is pushing forward with the EU accession process, bringing with it reforms and a fresh political agenda. At the same time, the conflict in the Middle East is dampening the economies of key trading partners through rising energy prices. Political measures, such as expanding energy infrastructure like a gas pipeline to Greece, aim to reduce dependency and stabilize the economy.

North Macedonia is tightening its migration policy: This week, Skopje announced, together with Serbia, Croatia, and Slovenia, that it would reject 'economic migrants' and only accept war refugees. At the same time, the country is intensifying international cooperation against human smuggling and trafficking, supported by increased US security assistance. Meanwhile, North Macedonia's EU accession remains blocked. The government, led by Prime Minister Mickoski, rejects constitutional amendments to recognize the Bulgarian minority without far-reaching guarantees. This issue touches upon a core aspect of national identity and is hindering the progress set by the EU in 2022.

North Macedonia's European ambitions remain stalled, as the EU accession process continues to be blocked by Bulgaria's veto. Skopje refuses to implement the demanded constitutional changes recognizing the Bulgarian minority without binding EU guarantees against future blockades. This creates an internal political tug-of-war, as Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski shares the public's desire to join the EU but rejects the conditions. At the same time, the country is significantly strengthening its NATO integration: Current agreements for American anti-tank systems and helicopters underscore the consistent modernization of its army to Western standards, a clear commitment to its Western alliances. Internal debates over the rights of the Albanian minority and economic burdens from global energy prices further challenge stability.

North Macedonia is grappling with ongoing political instability, fueled by its stalled EU accession process. The current situation is defined by the EU's demand for constitutional amendments to recognize the Bulgarian minority, which has brought the political agenda to a halt. Prime Minister Mickoski recently reshuffled his government to push forward the reform agenda. However, the opposition is demanding new conditions for the constitutional changes and is paralyzing electoral law reform with thousands of amendments, leading to a stalemate. This tug-of-war shapes the political culture, slows down reforms, and jeopardizes government stability. EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos visited Skopje to initiate dialogue, but the deep domestic political divides are delaying the country's path to Europe.

North Macedonia is accelerating its energy transition and infrastructure integration, driven by recent policy decisions. The country has just been invited to join the EU-backed "Vertical Gas Corridor," an initiative designed to diversify gas supplies in Southeast Europe. This highlights the strategic importance of the gas interconnector with Greece, currently under construction and slated for operation in 2027, which is progressing rapidly. At the same time, the government is making a massive push for renewable energy: The annual energy plan for 2026 approved 59 solar projects with over 3 GW of capacity. An energy law passed in 2025 mandates that new solar and wind power plants must be coupled with storage systems, driving the ramp-up of 3.5 GWh of co-located and 1.5 GWh of standalone storage. The introduction of the intraday electricity market in May 2026 is also politically motivated, offering greater flexibility to renewable energy producers. While North Macedonia is ambitiously pursuing green energy and modernizing its infrastructure, strengthening the electricity grid remains a key challenge to integrate the many new projects effectively. Concurrently, the country continues to grapple with its reliance on coal power, with the phase-out deadline repeatedly pushed back to 2030 due to the energy crisis.

North Macedonia is grappling with a looming pension crisis that is severely straining social peace and creating deep divides between generations. The current government is seriously debating a drastic increase in the retirement age, possibly up to 72 years, to plug the chronic deficit in the pension fund. This politically explosive discussion is fueled by unfavorable demographic developments, including low birth rates and the ongoing emigration of young skilled workers, which makes the ratio of contributors to retirees unsustainable. Trade unions vehemently reject the plans and warn of widespread poverty in old age, which further fuels the intergenerational conflict and reveals a political failure in ensuring the long-term security of the social system.

North Macedonia is experiencing a critical wave of emigration: By 2026, nearly a third of those born in the country are already living abroad, a trend that severely impacts young people, apprentices, and students. This 'brain drain' is fueled by youth unemployment of approximately 22.5% (in 2023), low wages, and widespread corruption. Current education reforms, such as the proposed higher education law, aim to improve quality and relevance for the job market. However, ongoing student protests in Skopje since April 2026, for example regarding language rights in judicial exams, highlight deep dissatisfaction with government policies. Young people are demanding tangible prospects instead of just promises.

Even with inflation recently easing to 3.4 percent in June 2026, families and single parents in North Macedonia continue to face immense financial strain. The monthly expenses for a family of four, excluding rent, hover around 1,970 US dollars, while the average net income is only about 782 US dollars. This significant gap intensifies the daily struggle to make ends meet. The government is attempting to counteract this through measures such as a 15 percent increase in child benefits, as outlined in the National Action Plan for Children's Rights. However, the persistent disparity between income and living costs, exacerbated by global energy price shocks, remains a central political challenge, demanding structural reforms and more effective social safety nets.

North Macedonian retirees continue to grapple with rising living costs, as the at-risk-of-poverty rate for those over 65 climbed to an alarming 20.1 percent in 2024. Despite a pension increase of 1,000 Denars announced as recently as March 2026, considered a regular adjustment, unions criticize its insufficient impact given persistently high food prices and a projected inflation of 4.5 percent for 2026. The new government under Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, in office since July 2024, is focusing on EU reforms and economic growth. However, previous measures, such as the minimum wage increases by the former government, have not sustainably protected the purchasing power of older generations, intensifying the political debate surrounding more effective social policies.

Even though the annual inflation in North Macedonia eased to 3.4% in June 2026, its people are still grappling with a real increase in living costs that has accumulated over years. An average monthly net income of 40,808 MKD barely covers rent and daily expenses. This economic strain is made worse by the ongoing standstill in the EU accession process. Prime Minister Mickoski refuses constitutional changes, which are crucial for negotiations, without guarantees against further blockades. This political stalemate delays much-needed investments and reforms that could improve the lives of working people, fueling frustration about an uncertain future.

North Macedonia has secured an additional 66 million Euros from the EU Growth Plan, a reallocation of unused funds expected to be finalized in September. This financial boost, which adds to the 142.1 million Euros already received, is directly tied to the implementation of a reform agenda focused on advancing the digitalization of public services and improving the business environment. Entrepreneurs will benefit from faster registration procedures and better access to funding. However, the political deadlock in the EU accession process, due to the constitutional dispute with Bulgaria, casts a long shadow. Despite positive economic forecasts and an anticipated growth of 3.1% for 2026, uncertainty for long-term investments persists, even as the government fights corruption and consolidates public finances.

Reforms for legal gender recognition, suspended for the past two years, profoundly impact the lives of transgender individuals in North Macedonia. The LGBTQ+ community recently voiced strong criticism regarding this during the Skopje Pride Manifesto in June 2026. Despite a 2019 European Court of Human Rights ruling that deemed the previous practice a human rights violation, societal pressure and conservative parliamentary forces continue to block clear legal provisions. The country's EU accession ambitions, which inherently require comprehensive human rights reforms, are further complicated by such internal political stalemates and Prime Minister Mickoski's recent rejection of further constitutional amendments in July 2026.

North Macedonia began negotiations on June 12, 2026, to join the EU's 'Roam Like At Home' system, a development that promises tangible benefits for immigrants and expats in the country. This initiative aims to abolish roaming charges for mobile services between North Macedonia and the European Union, expected by 2027. It's a direct result of the political strategy to gradually integrate the Western Balkans into the EU single market, long before full membership is achieved. For many living and working in North Macedonia, this means significant relief when traveling and communicating, strengthens economic ties with Europe, and underlines the country's ongoing path toward European standards.