Skopje, 20 September 2021 (MIA) – Both Zoran Zaev, leader of the SDSM-led ruling coalition, and opposition leader Hristijan Mickoski say they are confident their parties will win in the upcoming local elections. “We will secure the most votes, the most mayors and the most municipal councilors while also our candidate winning the City of Skopje because our government has been helping and sincerely believing in the municipalities,” PM Zaev said Monday at a TV debate with VMRO-DPMNE president Mickoski. Our goal, he noted, is to present what is best for every municipality and promote the best candidates running for mayors in the local elections. SDSM, Zaev said, is leading the coalition comprised of the most political parties. “22 political parties in total including DUI, BESA and DPA,” he said calling it “the coalition of the future.” Also, the SDSM leader called the coalition of VMRO-DPMNE and the Alliance for Albanians/Alternativa “unnatural” and “political marriage that is headed toward divorce.” Furthermore, VMRO-DPMNE’s Mickoski said was confident in the opposition winning the October elections. “It is the end of the SDSM-DUI government… What we are offering is fresh quality, most of the candidates running for mayors are first-time candidates who are motivated and brave, who have a vision and plan for the municipalities,” he said. VMRO-DPMNE, he said, will win more mayoral seats than SDSM. The opposition coalition established with Alliance for Albanians and Alternativa ahead of the elections is a “coalition against corruption.” “It will form the next government in Macedonia, which will investigate all crimes and corruption taking place in the past four years,” Mickoski pledged. Concluding what was the party leaders’ third TV debate, both Zaev and Mickoski shook hands vowing to conduct fair and democratic election campaign despite clashing over a range of pressing issues during the event, including the Tetovo hospital fire, the 2021 census and the health crisis. Zaev said he has no issue to shake the hand of his political rival, while Mickoski said he is the first political stakeholder who has announced a positive campaign with promotion of projects and policies of interest of the citizens.