Skopje, 6 June 2024 (MIA) — SDSM MP Fatmir Bytyqi announced on social media that he would not run for party president to avoid creating rifts between members.

"I will not run for SDSM president and I am doing this to prevent the further fragmentation and polarization of our membership. But my political mission extends beyond party posts and rifts. It prioritizes cooperation, dialogue and mutual understanding, which can only be achieved DIFFERENTLY, by returning to social democratic values," Bytyqi wrote, adding that he believed the party's ideology would make a difference in the party and in the state.

In a Facebook post titled "We Can Do This Differently," Bytyqi said that despite performing the duties of SDSM vice president over the last three years, he was no better qualified than any other party member for the presidential post.

Regarding his fellow party members who entered in the race, Bytyqi said he would support any social democrat who would work toward renewing the party. His only reservations, he said, were members currently taking sides and giving support to their favorites.

In the race for the party president post are former Minister of Health and current MP Venko Filipche, former Minister of Defense and current MP Slavjanka Petrovska, current director of the Free Zones Authority Jovan Despotovski as well as Aleksandar Bajdevski.

Eligible for the post are members with at least five years of membership who have at least once been elected to serve on any of the SDSM bodies.

The internal party elections were scheduled for June 30, following the resignation of Dimitar Kovachevski who stepped down from the leadership position after the party's defeat in the parliamentary election. mr/