Skopje, 13 July 2023 (MIA) – VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said Thursday that he would only be able to reach an agreement with the Government over the date for the next parliamentary elections.

“They had more than a year to find a single person to vote for the constitutional changes, they had a few solutions that I proposed last year, they refused all of them, and now they only have one option on the table: to sit down and agree on the date of the next parliamentary elections. Everything else is a fish tale, i.e., lies and fantasies of these people who only have a short time left in the Macedonian Government,” said Mickoski in answer to a journalist’s question.

Mickoski did not say what he would tell the foreign ministers of Austria, Czechia and Slovakia, Alexander Schallenberg, Jan Lipavský and Miroslav Wlachovský who are on official visit to the country.

Asked whether their visit is a part of a diplomatic offensive and talks over the constitutional amendments, Mickoski said that this has been happening the whole year. The VMRO-DPMNE leader said he would be disappointed and insulted if the constitutional amendments are the only topic of the meeting with the ministers, for which there is no agenda.

“This is nothing new. I would be disappointed if this is the only reason the three high-ranking guests came to Macedonia. If you truly respect the people of this country and if you truly wish Macedonia a European future and perspective, then we should pay more attention to the crime and corruption, the lack of reforms, the catastrophic situation in education, in healthcare, the bad state of the farmers, emigration of the youth. And I am ready to hold talks with everyone in order to improve the conditions in these areas. If someone is coming here just to discuss the constitutional changes then I would be really disappointed, but also insulted as a citizen of Macedonia, because according to all polls, the constitutional changes are not among the top priorities of the citizens of Macedonia,” said Mickoski.

“Let’s hear what it is that interests them,” added the VMRO-DPMNE leader.

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE