Skopje, 5 June 2024 (MIA) – Former health minister and current MP Venko Filipche on Wednesday submitted his candidacy in the race for leader of SDSM.

“I believe it is a beautiful day for democracy since we are the only party whose members elect the president in direct elections. Every member has the right to vote, there are no delegates. This day marks symbolically the start of reforming the party,” Filipche told reporters after submitting the candidacy.

The candidacy, he said, will be submitted together with a program including the basic principles I will follow if I’m elected president.

“The program is based on information, suggestions, demands I’ve been hearing by many members at meetings in the past couple of months. They were very clear as to what they want to see changed in the party and that is written in the program. The party will work with commitment and more professionally,” Filipche said noting he is joining the race on his own without a team. 

He proposed that all candidates should hold a joint meeting in order to agree “the rules of the game so that no matter who is elected we come out of this race stronger, more united and better.”

In a message to the SDSM members, Filipche vowed he will work with dedication to bring positive changes as demanded by the members themselves,

Asked whether he expected support for his candidacy, he said that a significant number of the members have expressed support. 

“I do expect support because I’m open and transparent to work with accountability for the good of the party. I think that the election results have brought the party to its knees,” Filipche said noting that one of the reasons he joins the race for party leader is to make SDSM a winning party once again. 

Asked whether he had the support of the former party leaders, Filipche said in a very short time he would prove that he would run the party with full integrity and dignity despite enjoying excellent relations with former leaders, including Zoran Zaev. 

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