Skopje, 26 October 2023 (MIA) – In answer to media questions Thursday, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski reiterated his call to Prime Minister Dimitar Kovachevski to select a date for both the presidential and parliamentary elections between Eid al-Fitr and Easter next spring.

“I have information that Kovachevski, Ahmeti and Grubi will have a working lunch together today, they should agree [on a date for the elections] and let us know the exact date, the working groups will then meet and talk about the future because these two processes are key for the future of Macedonia,” said Mickoski.

The opposition leader said there are serious recommendations from OSCE/ODIHR that need to be implemented in the Electoral Code, and one of them, he said, is that the Electoral Code should not be amended six months before the holding of elections.

“We have less than six months until the elections, we will once again commit fouls, once again we will intervene, why, because someone is a coward and doesn’t want to face the citizens. But, they have to. We must have elections in a few months from now,” said Mickoski.

According to Mickoski the presidential and parliamentary elections should not be held on separate dates, because, he said, “it would be an enormous expense of dozens of millions of euros, and it would be horrifying if someone was considering it.”

Mickoski reiterated the position the constitutional amendments won’t happen “under Bulgarian dictate”.

“The constitutional amendments won’t happen under these circumstances because these circumstances are degrading, anti-Macedonian, they don’t offer development, they don’t offer progress, and we believe that what was signed by Bujar Osmani and Kovachevski was only so they could extend their political careers by a few more months. They succeeded and got a year and a half more. Those who believed that they could deliver, are now realizing that they can’t. The Government assumes responsibilities which don’t belong to it. It assumes the responsibilities of Parliament,” said Mickoski.

In terms of whether he sees the upcoming visit of the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, to Skopje as pressure over the constitutional amendments, and whether he will meet with her, Mickoski said that no meeting has been scheduled for now.

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