According to the party, the European Union is not insisting on a new Electoral Code tailored to the interests of one political force, but is seeking credible, fair and transparent voting processes, an independent judiciary and a serious commitment to fighting corruption.

“This is precisely what VMRO-DPMNE has obstructed throughout all these years. Although improving the electoral framework is part of a broader reform agenda, the specific measures now being promoted by the executive are neither an obligation to the EU nor a precondition for advancing the talks. These are their own initiatives, not European ones.”

“These are mechanisms that create conditions for distortion and control of the electoral process, especially in the area of diaspora voting. Instead of focusing on protecting the will of the people, pressure is being exerted to adopt formulas that facilitate vote theft. This is not progress toward the EU, but a step backward toward anti-democratic practices that take us back to the Gruevski era.”

“The real blockade of the European perspective does not stem from the opposition. It comes from VMRO-DPMNE, which for two years has implemented no essential reforms and has kept Macedonia isolated. Clean votes are a prerequisite for the EU, not a law tailored to give the government an advantage. Anything beyond this is an attempt to conceal someone’s incompetence and corruption behind a European agenda,” SDSM said.

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“On Monday, he provoked a state of anarchy to hide his incompetence. The reality is that the Government has not recorded any results in any governance area and is now trying to build a justification for early elections. After declaring there would be none, he now needs an alibi at all costs,” Filipce emphasized.

According to him, faced with economic failure, rising prices, and the decline of living standards, Mickoski, instead of offering solutions, prefers to insult and threaten opposition lawmakers.

“Having no results and no way out, Mickoski resorts to insults and intimidation toward MPs in the chamber. He has called citizens the dregs of society, rodents, mediocrities, mollusks; he has chosen a host of derogatory epithets in the past, and now he has started verbally attacking lawmakers. In fact, these insults say more about his character than about anyone else. Is this a person to be called a university professor? Is this a prime minister, the head of the executive?” Filipce asked.

As for Mickoski’s apology, the SDSM leader described it as a staged act without any sense of real responsibility.

“He simply fabricated an illusion, offering an apology in an empty chamber after opposition MPs had withdrawn… so he staged a political show. A shameful, forced ‘apology’. However, this cannot erase his previous insults and behavior,” Filipce concluded.

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According to the opposition, economic indicators are in free fall, the state coffers are empty, European Union integration has stalled, and citizens are being hit daily by the relentless rise in prices of goods and services.

“Instead of admitting his failures, Mickoski is turning Parliament into a spectacle arena. First with the Electoral Code, now with this reorganization. Unwilling to acknowledge that finances are exhausted and his mandate can no longer be prolonged, he is trying to create the illusion of work. It is extremely cynical that part of the parliamentary majority uses offensive language against opposition lawmakers,” the SDSM reaction states.

The party directly accuses the prime minister of participating in this behavior through his closest associate. “Ivan Stoilkovic, as Mickoski’s first appointee and as a representative of the ‘Serbian world’, leads the insults, going so far as to openly curse opposition deputies from the parliamentary rostrum. With these actions, they humiliate the country’s highest institution and, along with it, the people. This shows not strength, but extreme weakness,” the statement continues.

SDSM also emphasizes that Mickoski aims for early elections. Since his failures have become impossible to mask, he needs a justification. “He himself previously stated that there would be no early elections, so now he is devising this reorganization and simultaneously sowing chaos in Parliament. Thus, he is fabricating a reason to call them,” concludes the opposition’s stance.

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He described the country’s economic situation as serious, adding that the lack of public funds could force the Government to call early elections.

“Facing this economic reality will push the executive towards the ballot boxes. This move would serve to buy time, because they lack a clear plan to improve the situation. The state coffers are empty. We closed the year with an 8% drop in revenue, an unprecedented phenomenon in the history of our modern state, and this was confirmed by the budget revision. The situation is alarming and is reflected in the business sector, which is suffering from a lack of liquidity. In previous crises, citizens did not feel the shortage of money, but now the crisis is real,” Bytyqi stated.

Speaking about SDSM, he stressed that the party is undergoing a reform process.

“What is happening now, according to him, is part of the SDSM reform that began two years ago. I have always been critical and honest during this phase, seeking to open the party to all those who share the same principles and ideology. I am not involved in the party’s restructuring, I am its MP. The polls are part of this reform process and they show a decline in citizens’ interest in participating in elections,” he added.

Regarding the incident of Albanian MPs being stopped in Albania, Bytyqi called it a negative signal from both sides.

“We go to the homeland as their children. Even when I was not in politics, I did not interfere in their internal politics. This is a bad signal from both the mother state and from those who hold official positions. We have a lot of work to do here,” he said.

As for the VLEN coalition, Bytyqi had a clear piece of advice for them regarding their governing partner, VMRO-DPMNE.

“I advise them to be tougher at the negotiating table with their partners and to clearly show that they have crossed the line. VMRO-DPMNE came to power with a narrative of superiority, where they are above and others are subservient. The citizens of this country belong to different ethnicities, but they deserve to be treated equally. VMRO-DPMNE must understand that it must treat all citizens equally, otherwise it will soon face problems in its governance,” Bytyqi concluded./Telegrafi/

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Explaining the reasons for the event, which was held behind closed doors, Ivanovski said the main motivation was the current situation on the political scene. According to him, the country is facing, on the one hand, an unjustifiably strong government and, on the other, an opposition that is failing to express and articulate the oppositional mood that is growing ever stronger.

He also spoke about the way the party is being led by its current chairman, Venko Filipče, whom he said he has known since he was 17 years old. Ivanovski stressed that he has nothing personal against him, but that he is convinced Filipče is not capable of bearing the burden of the role he has in SDSM.

“Perhaps no one wished him success as president of SDSM more than I did. And in the past period, I have continuously participated with my suggestions, proposals, and opinions, and not only I, but also some of the people who sat at that table with the best intentions. For example, I personally thought that Venko Filipče, as president, should make a complete break with SDSM, so that the party could be competitive and have a fresh start in terms of personnel, program, and concept. I know this, and I have no different opinion on it: yes, Venko Filipče is an excellent surgeon, not to say the best, that is not for me to judge, right, and I still hold that opinion, he always wants to help, but I, both in the past period and now publicly, and this will be the first and last time I speak about him as president of SDSM, say that he cannot handle that role. Is it because of a lack of capacity, is it ignorance, which is legitimate, but perhaps also a lack of will. I think it is the latter,” Ivanovski said.

In support of this position, he cited as an example the fact that, according to him, in the past period advice had been given in good faith and without asking for anything in return. However, as he put it, in response they encountered manipulation and a failure to tell the truth behind closed doors.

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He stressed that the objective remains for the current government to complete its full term, but underlined that as a party they are prepared at any time for a new electoral process.

“We are aiming for a full mandate, that is, four years. Now, if there are political forces and a majority in Parliament, VMRO-DPMNE is ready to go to elections at any time,” Mickoski declared.

This question from the media came after several viral polls from ruling and opposition parties were published today, according to which VMRO-DPMNE showed significantly higher support than SDSM, while DUI had greater support than VLEN.

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This announcement was made today by SDSM leader Venko Filipce.

Asked directly about the issue, Filipce said his answer was just as direct: “Regarding the specific question, I will answer specifically: the party bodies will debate this during the coming week.”

In recent months, Petrovska has publicly voiced critical assessments of the situation within the party, saying: “If we do not change, we will disappear.”

Earlier, in response to journalists’ questions, the SDSM leader said this platform is another political project of Hristijan Mickoski, which SDSM describes as “ZNAM 2.0” and which, according to him, has only one goal: to deepen divisions in the opposition and weaken SDSM.

“I will not comment on Hristijan Mickoski’s projects. I regret that some comrades gave up on their party and their ideology. This has been seen before. Such was the ZNAM project, which is already gradually failing. The organizer is the same and the financier is the same,” Filipce said.

He added that he remains ready for any debate and discussion, but stressed that they should take place within the party structures.

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According to the party, this assessment by the European Commission proves that the country is on the right track and that the progress achieved has been recognized by the institution that measures the quality and implementation of reforms.

VMRO-DPMNE also stresses that another sign of the success of the reforms is the European Commission’s proposal for the reallocation of funds from the Growth Plan, which would bring greater financial support to the states that have achieved the best results.

“This is recognition of the work that has been done, but also an opportunity for Macedonia to secure additional funds for development,” the party said.

In the same statement, the party expressed the view that it is incomprehensible that, according to it, SDSM and Levica continue to block laws stemming from the Reform Agenda.

“Every obstacle from SDSM and Levica does not obstruct the Government, but instead obstructs the fulfillment of the state’s obligations and endangers the opportunities opened up by the Growth Plan,” the statement said.

VMRO-DPMNE called on SDSM and Levica to abandon their day-to-day political interests and support the laws related to the Reform Agenda, including the Electoral Code, stressing that they are in the interest of the citizens and the country’s European future.

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SDSM leader Venko Filipče announced that he will propose Goran Gerasimovski, currently the mayor of Centar Municipality, for the new position of party vice president.

According to him, SDSM is continuing to consolidate, while Gerasimovski is a figure who enjoys the support and trust of citizens.

“SDSM is growing even stronger. I am pleased to inform the members that I will nominate Goran Gerasimovski for the new vice president of SDSM. Goran is a man who, through tireless work, dedication and responsibility, has earned the trust of the citizens of Centar Municipality. Winning and securing a second term as mayor is the best proof that results, closeness to the people and honest work are always appreciated. I am convinced that Goran, with his experience, work and sincere desire, will bring new momentum, unite all our capacities against the criminal government and contribute to building an even stronger SDSM. Together we continue, with the dedication and renewed energy of our entire team, for a better future for Macedonia,” Filipče wrote on social media.

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Dozens of former SDSM officials, together with current MP Slavjanka Petrovska, presented a new initiative within the social democratic camp, with the aim of bringing the social democratic idea back to the forefront.

According to them, the SDSM led by Venko Filipce does not represent them properly.

At the event, “Conversations for the Future,” several former senior SDSM officials were also present, as well as PLD chairwoman Monika Zajkova.

Those present assessed that the opposition needs a revolution in ideology and values, while calling for an open debate and a new social contract that would serve as the basis for political change.

“Macedonia needs a new social contract as the basis for creating broad opposition potential for change. The progressive democratic public needs a genuine and objective debate, which, in order to achieve its goal, must be free from the usual need to please party authorities,” their statement said.

After the presentation of this new political platform, SDSM reacted, describing it as an attempt by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski to build a controlled opposition. The party also said that SDSM voters would not be deceived as happened with ZNAM.

“The announced platform for ‘conversations for the future’ is yet another attempt in the series of efforts by Hristijan Mickoski to create a controlled opposition. First, it is not known who is behind it. There is no name of the organizer, there is no transparency, and everything is taking place according to Chatham House rules. When you look at what happened at the first meeting, it becomes clear that, although there was talk of ‘uniting the opposition,’ the first point and conclusion of the meeting was an attack on SDSM. Mickoski announced this platform as early as the end of last year. The first promoters were Jovan Despotovski and Petre Shilegov, as a new version of ZNAM 2.0. Since he failed to bring down SDSM from within, he is now bringing together its former members to attack it from the outside,” the SDSM reaction said.

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