Skopje, 22 April 2024 (MIA) - VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski expects a convincing victory in the first round of the presidential elections for Gordana Siljanovska Davkova and doubts that the necessary threshold won't be met in the second round of voting.

Mickoski, responding to the question of whether there would be a shortfall in the threshold if DUI decides not to vote for the president, stated in an interview with Sitel TV that DUI is no longer in a position to blackmail.

Commenting on the attacks against him by DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, Mickoski stated that Ahmeti has long crossed the Rubicon, and those few advising him are making a big mistake.

He first stirs up revolt among Albanians dissatisfied with DUI's policies by abusing Albanians and trying to impose a monopoly on the Macedonian political scene. Additionally, he mobilizes anti-DUI sentiment among Albanian voters, who will largely vote for VMRO-DPMNE and the "Your Macedonia" coalition and Professor Siljanovska, Mickoski stated.

According to him, the second mistake of Ahmeti, as he put it, the person who swears by European values, openly exhibits inappropriate, uncultured behavior, insults, and everyone understands what kind of person he essentially becomes.

“Thirdly, I regret that the crime we make public, which is linked to DUI or the Ahmeti family, is presented as defending Albanian national interests. He misses the chance; if he presents himself as someone seeking justice to prevail, to have justice in Macedonia, then this should be condemned. Unfortunately, he not only fails to condemn but also presents himself as a great defender of all this, the crime of the Ahmeti family, and the heirs of DUI,” Mickoski said.

VMRO-DPMNE leader claimed that fear and panic are being instilled among Ahmeti's ranks about the outcome and the subsequent defeat in the elections.

In regard to the constitutional amendments, Mickoski stated that they cannot accept Bulgarian dictation. "On the other hand, we see some representatives of the international community saying that we are a guarantee that this will be implemented, and we have heard many guarantees from you. But let's work and be constructive; you convince the Bulgarians that what is decided by a European institution should be respected," he said.

According to Mickoski, the main issue is that, according to the Constitution, all ethnic communities enjoy equal rights.

"Our Constitution guarantees the rights of every citizen, regardless of ethnic affiliation. Our Constitution does not stop at respecting the rights of those mentioned but extends to everyone," Mickoski stated.

VMRO-DPMNE leader said that he does not see the need to incorporate the Bulgarians into the Constitution because, as he said, according to the Constitution, all members of communities enjoy all rights equally.