SDSM against Mickoski: Von der Leyen confirmed that Macedonia will move toward the EU with its language and identity

SDSM has reacted sharply to Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski following the visit to Skopje by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The opposition party asks why he continues to appear dissatisfied when Brussels has reiterated its guarantee that Macedonia will join the European Union while preserving its language and identity.

“What is happening now, Mickoski? Does the fact that the identity has been preserved bother you?” SDSM said.

According to the opposition, Mickoski initially described the meeting with Von der Leyen as decisive, but later said he was not satisfied with the messages concerning constitutional amendments.

SDSM stresses that Von der Leyen made it clear that changing the Constitution remains part of the discussion, while at the same time assuring that Europe is waiting for Macedonia with its identity and language. “This is precisely the sentence that Mickoski presented as a betrayal,” the party said.

The opposition accuses the prime minister of having held a different position on the Prespa Agreement and the name issue before coming to power. SDSM recalls that during that period he promised to annul the agreement and restore the former name.

“The Prespa Agreement has now apparently become a masterpiece. Siljanovska said that the Macedonian language, culture and identity are protected by it. Now the President of the European Commission is telling him this directly as well, but he is still dissatisfied,” SDSM said.

The opposition party believes that Mickoski’s concern is not related to protecting Macedonian identity, but to the fact that the conditions for continuing the European integration process remain in place.

“His dissatisfaction stems from the fact that his lie has been exposed, not because anyone is interfering with Macedonian identity,” SDSM said.

SDSM stresses that constitutional amendments and reforms remain necessary for the country to advance on its European path, along with issues related to the rule of law and the prosecution service.

The party adds that the messages conveyed by Von der Leyen during her stay in Skopje are the same as those SDSM had made public before the elections.