The candidates in the upcoming presidential election, Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova, Stevo Pendarovski and Blerim Reka signed on Sunday the Code for Fair and Democratic Election at the premises of the State Electoral Commission (SEC). Candidate of the Albanian opposition parties Blerim Reka said that it does not matter who will win the election, as long as they are conducted properly and fairly, which will secure Macedonia’s start of membership negotiations with the EU. The candidate of the Macedonian opposition bloc led by VMRO-DPMNE Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova expressed hope that there will be a campaign of argumentations and not smear campaigns. The candidate of the ruling alliance led by SDSM and DUI Stevo Pendarovski said that he will implement on terrain the pledges contained in the Code he signed. All three candidates greeted and wished good luck to each other. The pre-electoral campaign starts on 1 April and ends on 19 April. The first round of the presidential election is scheduled for 21 April, while the second for 5 May.