Skopje, 30 April 2024 (MIA) - I regret that the DUI leadership is still living in times past. Macedonia belongs to all citizens, it is not a federation, it is not a state of two, three or four nations, and in a democracy, the one who has 61 MP seats forms the government. I do not know how they see themselves as representatives of the majority of the non-ethnic Macedonian population. We are all citizens of Macedonia, Macedonians, and I believe that politics should not be seen as a 'buffet' so that DUI takes a bit of SDSM, a bit of VMRO-DPMNE, a bit of other political parties. DUI was part of the government together with SDSM, they have been defeated in the first round of the presidential elections, I expect them to be defeated after the parliamentary elections and to be in opposition in a few weeks time, said VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski on Tuesday.

Mickoski told reporters he expects a convincing win for Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova and coalition "Your Macedonia" on May 8, whereas entering a coalition with the ethnic Albanian opposition bloc "Worth It" and the constitutional changes will be discussed after the elections. He reiterated that his party does not respond to blackmail or threat, noting that VMRO-DPMNE is focused on the elections and will sit on the table with the opposition parties after they are completed.

Mickoski pointed out that the place of the Western Balkans is in the EU, noting that VMRO-DPMNE's fundamentals incorporate Macedonia's ambition to be part of EU, adding that "Brussels must demonstrate a clear plan and activities for Macedonian integration, in order to see how close or far the European future is".

He expressed regret that many bureaucrats coming from Brussels have given promises regarding the country's Euro-integration process they have not fulfilled, and expects them to be a bit more serious.

"VMRO-DPMNE is prepared, as the future government, to negotiate based on the Copenhagen criteria and the values defined by De Gasperi, Adenauer and Schumann," said Mickoski.

Photo/Video: MIA