North Macedonian Flag Shown with 12 Rays Instead of 8, Opposition Denounces Scandal at State Celebration

As part of celebrations marking the 35th anniversary of North Macedonia’s independence, a flag with 12 rays was displayed in Ohrid last night, even though the official symbol has eight.

The musical event, titled “The Day Shone Brightly,” was held at the Biljanini Izvori Stadium. The show in Ohrid marked the start of an announced tour of 11 cities across the country, while the final event is expected to take place in Skopje on September 4.

The depiction of the flag in this form prompted a strong reaction from the opposition.

“During an official state ceremony dedicated to the 35th anniversary of independence, for which large sums of taxpayers’ money were spent, Mickoski’s government incorrectly displayed the Macedonian flag,” SDSM said.

The opposition party called on the government to disclose the name of the company contracted to organize the event, the amount spent on the celebration, and the person who will be held responsible for the blunder.

VMRO-DPMNE responded to SDSM’s claims regarding the flag displayed at the concert marking the 35th anniversary of independence. According to its explanation, it was an art installation in which a sun with multiple rays transformed into the official eight-rayed flag. The party also stressed that SDSM, which changed the flag, the country’s name and the Constitution, has no credibility to make accusations about undermining the dignity of the state. /INA/