Skopje, 4 May 2024 (MIA) - VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Miskoski said he expects irregularities in the upcoming elections on May 8, regarding which he accused the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI).  

In a statement to the media at the Skopje-based St. Spas Church on Saturday, Mickoski said the party has informed international representatives in the country as well as the Ministry of Interior about election irregularities in the first round of the presidential elections, calling on them to strengthen their presence at the polling stations in question. 

"To the representatives of the international community, to the OSCE and ODIHR, we submitted a list of polling stations where, at a certain time, voting takes less than one minute on average, which indicates that we have numerous irregularities there, i.e. ballot stuffing, and at those polling stations, strange but true, fingerprint devices did not work. We expect something similar to happen in the second round, but we are ready. We have informed the Ministry of Interior to strengthen its presence there. In general, we are talking about polling stations in Skopje Chair, Lipkovo, Arachinovo, etc.," said Mickoski. 

He accused DUI of voter coercion, adding that top officials and government members do that accompanied by members of the Ministry of Interior.  

"DUI does not win the voters through its policies, but it literally influences votes by coercion and with measures and means that are illegal in democracy. So, if you just divide the results of the "European" Osmani into two, you will get the real support for DUI which for more than 20 years has been getting votes - with their epic manipulation and reference to 2001, as well as rigging of tenders, and through coercion, threats, intimidation and bribery," Mickoski said. 

He calls on the international community to vigilantly monitor the entire process.

Asked to comment on SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski's statement that VMRO-DPMNE will threaten European integration, Mickoski said that if anyone threatens European integration, it is the DUI - SDSM coalition.

"Their main goal over the past 6 and a half or 7 years was not to present values and solve the problems of the citizens. Their aim was to accept humiliating agreements and sign everything so that they can stay longer in power and be able to rob the people, and rob Macedonia. That was their political matrix, so they are the main culprits why for 7 years we have not moved a millimeter forward from what was the situation five years ago, and even though they promised life and one society for all, they brought life for only a few and a society for only a few," said Mickoski. 

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE