Conservatives favored to win presidential election runoff, snap national polls in Macedonia

SKOPJE, Macedonia – Polls have opened for Macedonia's double election, a presidential election runoff and snap national elections.

Conservatives are favored to win both contests.

Nearly 1.8 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots Sunday at more than 3,500 polling stations that opened at 7 a.m local time (0500 GMT) and will close at 7 p.m. (1700 GMT)

About 10,000 domestic and 550 international observers are monitoring the vote.

Macedonian President Gjorge Ivanov is favored to win a second 5-year term. Ivanov won nearly 52 percent in the first round two weeks ago, while opponent Stevo Pendarovski received 37.5 percent.

Prime minister Nikola Gruevski, the leader of conservative VMRO-DPMNE, is hoping to win an outright majority in the 123-member parliament.