Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov is said to have accepted the initiative for a new term of office as head of state signed by about 50 public figures including high-ranking VMRO-DPMNE officials, sources from among those who signed the petition in support of Ivanov’s presidential nomination told Dnevnik.

The petition in Ivanov’s support was signed Monday by numerous party officials, including MP and former Foreign Minister Antonio Milososki, Finance Minister Zoran Stavreski, Skopje Mayor Koce Trajanovski, Marjan Risteski, Aerodrom Mayor Ivica Koneski, Ohrid Mayor Nikola Bakraceski, Cair Mayor Biljana Belicanec, UJP (Public Revenue Office) Director Goran Trajkovski, etc.

In keeping with the party procedure, he is expected to submit his candidature to VMRO-DPMNE’s HQ in person on Tuesday whereby he would enter the race for the presidential nomination set for 1 March. Party sources confirmed Tuesday the initiative in support of Ivanov’s reelection and although they refused to say whether he is the favorite of the party race for the presidential nomination, bearing in mind who all signed the petition in his support, Ivanov is quite certain to win his second presidential nomination, Dnevnik comments.