Skopje, 25 January 2024 (MIA) – SDSM is a progressive party and has shown itself to be a factor of stability and reason together with its coalition partners. The only party that causes problems in this country is VMRO-DPMNE. The best poll always happens on the day of the elections.  I expect us to have over 61 MPs at the next parliamentary elections, and we will form the new pro-European government, said outgoing Prime Minister and SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski in an interview for TV Kanal 5 on Thursday evening.

According to Kovachevski, there is no precedent where someone is participating in a government, while also not voting for that government.

“There are cases where someone doesn’t participate in a government, but votes for it. While we have a case where they are participating, but they won’t vote for their ministers,” said Kovachevski in the interview.

He stressed the party would vote for the proposed ministers and deputy ministers on Sunday.

“SDSM is a progressive party and has shown itself to be a factor of stability and reason together with its coalition partners. The only party that causes problems in this country is VMRO-DPMNE. We have proposed ministers for the caretaker government and we will vote [for it],” said Kovachevski, adding that requests to scrap the Przhino-style caretaker government are a “compliment”.

According to Kovachevski, after the leaders’ meeting held in Parliament, all political parties agreed that there is not enough time to scrap the Przhino-style caretaker government ahead of the upcoming elections.

Kovachevski said he expects the SDSM-led coalition to receive over 61 MPs at the parliamentary elections.

“The best poll always happens on the day of the elections. That was the case in 2020 as well, when VMRO-DPMNE was showing polls in which they were leading by 7 percent, only to lose the elections in the end. And if you look at the polls, the citizens can recognize that the democracy in our country has drastically improved compared to 2016. In the polls, the citizens are clearly stating that the Government has implemented the right methodologies for the growth of wages and pensions. I expect us to have over 61 MPs at the next parliamentary elections, and we will form the new pro-European government. SDSM with its coalition partners could have even more than 70 MPs. We share the vision for a European Macedonia with everyone in this ruling coalition,” said Kovachevski.

Whether SDSM will participate in the elections as part of a coalition with its traditional coalition partners or a broader coalition, Kovachevski said would depend on analyses based on empirical data, as well as programme commitments.

“Every political party has the right to decide how it will participate in the elections. But on May 8, SDSM will form a government with a clear European vision that will lead the country to EU membership by 2030,” said the outgoing Prime Minister.

In the interview, Kovachevski said he hasn’t spoken to the opposition of ethnic Albanian parties over a presidential candidate. He said there are other names in play besides Stevo Pendarovski, Radmila Shekjerinska and Oliver Spasovski, but, he said, the issue will be discussed and decided within the party and with SDSM’s coalition partners.

“I haven’t had discussions with the Albanian opposition, but I believe that all who are in favor of a European Macedonia and support the continuation of the Euro-integration process should support a European candidate. SDSM will have such a candidate, with a clear European vision, who will respect the international agreements with the neighbors and other countries, who will promote our NATO membership, who will strive for our full-fledged EU membership and who will be the defender of democracy and freedom of the media. The procedure within SDSM is ongoing, there are several proposals for a presidential candidate. The party’s bodies make decisions in line with the party’s Statute, as well as with the coalition partners,” stressed Kovachevski.

According to Kovachevski, Talat Xhaferi, who is set to become the country’s caretaker prime minister, has enough experience in order to lead the country, to maintain the strategic direction and look after the citizens “as well as the current government has done”.

Photo: Printscreen