Skopje, 26 April 2024 (MIA) - SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski urged Friday all citizens to vote in the May 8 presidential runoff and the parliamentary elections, and dismissed claims over a SDSM-DUI agreement to boycott the vote.

"This is not true. I call for mass turnout at the May 8 elections and support for presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski and the coalition 'For a European Future' for the parliamentary elections. Let's have a big turnout, elect a president and a parliamentary composition, so that Macedonia continues on its Euro-integration path," said Kovachevski.

On the poor results from the first round and the 180,000 votes for Pendarovski, Kovachevski said "it is a fact that citizens have sent a very clear message that SDSM has received", while expecting larger support in the runoff.

"We received the message in the first round for all the mistakes that have been made over the past seven years. However, we expect to talk to citizens in all cities and villages across the country, in order to get the support for Pendarovski in the runoff. We are continuing in the second round with our head held high," Kovachevski told reporters.

He is aware that citizens are dissatisfied and that the main topics they are preoccupied with are the fight against corruption, rule of law and better standard of life.

"The key requirement to make this happen is for the country to join the EU and that is why our programme is titled 'For European Macedonia'," said Kovachevski and added he favored the implementation of a vetting for judges, prosecutors and politicians.

Asked if he expects a transfer of votes from other parties and ethnic Albanians, the SDSM leader said he expected the support from all citizens, regardless of their background.

"No one has the voters under their control ad are directed who to vote for. Pendarovski was nominated by over 22,000 signatures from citizens and is supported by the SDSM-led coalition 'For a European Future'. He made this clear at the press conference - he will seek the support from citizens not the candidates who failed to advance to the runoff," said Kovachevski.

He added that discussions are taking place with political parties at various levels.

"I also have discussions with political parties at various levels and call on a mass turnout, so that we elect a president that will ensure a secure European future and a parliament that will take brave decisions for the country and give citizens what they expect and deserve," noted Kovachevski.

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