Skopje, 20 February 2024 (MIA) — VMRO-DPMNE has a big lead in public opinion polls for the 2024 parliamentary election, according to party president Hristijan Mickoski in Kanal 5 TV appearance on Tuesday.

"VMRO-DPMNE is the big favorite for the next parliamentary election, which will be held in a little more than two months. We have around 44 or 45 days until the start of the presidential election campaign," Mickoski said, adding that his party was enjoying a 2-1 advantage among respondents.

He said that three quarters were unhappy with their quality of life and thought the country was moving in the wrong direction. "The number of citizens who are satisfied," he added, "is in the single digits."

"But that's just the easy part, I would say, in this political situation," Mickoski said. The harder part is yet to come."

"Because as we can see in these polls, citizens are very disappointed," he added.

"They all agree on one thing: that we don't have a state anymore. Everyone agrees they feel like second-class citizens, living in poverty and hardship." mr/