Skopje, 3 June 2024 (MIA) - Former health minister and current SDSM MP Venko Filipche joins the race for new leader of the social democrats, he confirmed to MIA.

“That’s right, I’m submitting a candidacy for leader of SDSM,” the ex-health minister responded briefly. 

Former defense minister and current MP Slavjanka Petrovska and the director of the free industrial zones, Jovan Despotovski have also announced their bids to run for new SDSM president. The Customs Administration director Stefan Bogoev is also likely to run for the post. 

Inter-party elections will be held after the party suffered a defeat at this year’s parliamentary elections, winning 18 seats in the 120-seat Parliament. Venko Filipche was the list principal in the fourth electoral district, where SDSM won five seats. 

On May 31, SDSM launched a procedure for extraordinary inter-party elections for a new party leader. SDSM will hold a congress on June 9 to analyze the reasons for the election defeat. 

The extraordinary inter-party elections will take place June 30.