Skopje, 29 April 2024 (MIA) – SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski believes that in the upcoming parliamentary elections and presidential runoff, citizens will have to choose between two options - one that aims at a prosperous country, through full-fledged EU membership by 2030, or a political option that offers a vague plan on renegotiating the agreement with Bulgaria and the negotiating framework regarding which the EU has declared that it is not possible.

“The May 8 elections will be difficult given the results of the first round of the presidential election, but SDSM is a strong party. Given the challenges it has faced, as well as the leadership of SDSM since 1991, I believe that SDSM will successfully overcome this obstacle as well. We will get a sufficient number of votes with which the party will be a respectable political force in the Parliament,” Kovachevski said commenting on the party’s expectations in an interview with 360 Degrees.

He added that SDSM is calling for unification of all progressive forces in favor of the program proposed by the party, which includes all the mistakes made in the past seven years and what needs to be done to correct them. Kovachevski pointed out that SDSM has a very clear plan on where the state should move in all areas, including economy, the rule of law, fight against corruption, care for young people, care for all, increasing pensions, increasing the minimum wage, the average wage, etc.

The SDSM leader and list principle in the first election district says he will continue to act as MP even if SDSM loses in the parliamentary elections and is not part of the next government.

Kovachevski pointed out that he has not held talks with any party over possible support for the presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski. The SDSM leader said that Pendarovski is a citizen’s candidate and is seeking the votes of all citizens. Also, Kovachevski added, no party owns the citizens' votes to be able to decide whether to give them to a certain candidate. 

Regarding VMRO-DPMNE’s announcements that in the next government it would form a coalition with the “Worth It” coalition of the ethnic Albanian political bloc and DUI’s accusations that if they win more votes and MPs, such a coalition would underestimate the the citizens, Kovachevski says that it is a political choice in a democratic society.

“The number of MPs with majority in the Parliament decide who forms a government,” the SDSM leader said. 

Asked about his position regarding the election result of ZNAM and Maksim Dimitrievski, he said the result is respectable, but it is a matter of votes that would traditionally go to SDSM.

“Those are the votes of those dissatisfied with SDSM's policies,” the SDSM leader told MRT’s 360 Degrees.

Photo: SDSM