Skopje, 4 August 2024 (MIA) - With its irresponsible behavior, DUI is threatening the interethnic landscape in the country and poses a threat to the peace and stability of Macedonia. As a Government, we will take all necessary measures to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Macedonia as a country. But in their essence, these messages are an attempt to stubbornly protect the wealth they habe acquired over the past 20 years in power, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski told “Fokus” when asked about DUI’s initiative to enshrine the principle of a “winner with winner” ruling coalition in law and a territorial reorganization based on the Belgian model.

“The essence is to protect the capital they have gained in their 22 years on the political scene and 20 years in power. But I don’t exclude the possibility that certain groups and structures can be manipulated, and then challenge the territorial integrity and sovereignty, create a crisis. But as a Government, we have a task to defend this,” Mickoski said.

Asked whether protests are expected to be held on the issues, Mickoski said he has heard such reports, adding that they would be legitimate as long as they are peaceful and democratic.

“As long as they are democratic and peaceful, they are legitimate. If they become violent, then, once again I’ll say, as a Government we have a right to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country,” Mickoski underlined.

Asked about the “winner with winner” principle, Mickoski said the will of the people is clear, and “those who are defeated should go to the opposition, while the winner creates the structure of the future Government”.

“You can’t spend 7 years in government with SDSM and then say – this is over now I’ll form a coalition with VMRO-DPMNE. That’s not how it works. You chose your coalition partner and functioned on a basis of the government program, regardless of what it was like. That government has now been defeated, delegitimated, and this is where the process ends. DUI with its coalition and SDSM won less than 300.000 votes together. VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition won almost 450.000 votes, while together with VLEN and ZNAM we have more than 600.000,” Mickoski said. 

Photo: MIA Archive