State election commission chief Oliver Derkorski announced late Sunday that with nearly 99 per cent of the votes counted, Pendarovski, the candidate of the ruling Social Democratic Union, had won with 51.8 per cent of the votes.

Gordana Siljanovska Davkova, the candidate favoured by the conservative opposition VMRO-DPMNE party, won 44.5 per cent.

The two politicians had each received about 42 per cent in the first round of voting April 21, which had three candidates.

Even before the official announcement, Social Democrat supporters had gathered at the party's headquarters in downtown Skopje, the country's capital, to celebrate as favourable results trickled in.

"This is a victory for all who are convinced that we have to continue forward together and I promise I'll serve all the people equally," Pendarovski said from the Social Democrats' headquarters. He also thanked the people for their "wise choice".

"Our path is paved with success. ... We all will continue to move forward toward our common goal of progress and ... toward NATO and the European Union," said Prime Minister Zoran Zaev.

The election was seen as a test of the government's pro-West policies. Pendarovski backed the government deal with Greece that renamed the country in exchange for NATO membership, while Siljankovska criticised it.

North Macedonia's previous constitutional name was the Republic of Macedonia.

The name change took effect in February as part of an agreement to end a decades-long dispute with Greece, which blocked the former Yugoslav republic's path to membership in NATO and the European Union over rights to the Macedonia name.

Although the presidency is mostly ceremonial, with some powers to veto legislation, the outcome of the vote could trigger an early parliamentary election.

Prime Minister Zaev, who staked his reputation on negotiating the name deal, said he would call one if Pendarovski were not elected.

Australian Associated Press