Skopje, 2 April 2024 (MIA) – Macedonia can be a democratic and prosperous country only if it keeps two strategic continuities alive – the Euro-Atlantic integrations and interethnic relations. Our political continuity in this sense is well-known, while theirs is a constant dismissal of compromises which indisputably preserve our national dignity – our language and our identity, said incumbent President Stevo Pendarovski promoting his re-election bid at a convention Tuesday evening.

At the convention held in Skopje, Pendarovski, who is endorsed by SDSM and its coalition, said the opposition hasn’t made a single strategic decision for the country because, he said, “strategic decisions lead to the fulfillment of the national interests in the long term and a loss of rating in the short-term, while populist decisions help retain positions and money but do not fulfill the interests of the state and its citizens”.

Instead of the Prespa Agreement, Pendarovski said the opposition is offering its annulment, proposing isolation or BRICS membership as alternatives.

“Three years ago, with all our strength, we worked to modify the French proposal, we had difficult discussions with Sofia in order to preserve the Macedonian language and identity, the opposition openly sabotaged these efforts, while some European commissioners – their strategic allies who create their electoral program – both then and now, are openly on Bulgaria’s side,” Pendarovski said.

Pendarovski said he supports a vetting of the judiciary and politicians, and that all officials who have wronged should be dismissed from their posts.

“We can’t criticize others, and not look inside our ranks and identify our mistakes as well. We didn’t make any mistakes in relation to strategic issues, but in terms of certain policies or personnel decisions, we did. Our greatest failure was the fact we stopped halfway in the realization of the key slogan of the only authentic citizens’ revolution – ‘No justice, no peace’. We can’t turn back time, but it is crucial that we commit ourselves to a complete vetting of all judges and prosecutors, but above all, of us, the politicians,” Pendarovski stressed.

He underscored that he supports the opposition’s proposal for a vetting of officials, but added that all officials who were in power from 1990 onwards should be vetted, and not only the ones from the past five years.

“In the next few weeks, the Macedonian citizens will face the same dilemma they did 10 or 20 years ago – whether to give their trust to quasi-patriots or those who showed they know how to position Macedonia and protect its national interests in a world in which the great powers dictate the rules,” Pendarovski said.

If re-elected, Pendarovski pledged to treat all citizens the same, regardless of the party they vote for or their ethnicity; to cooperate with young people; and to continue to criticize crime and high corruption, even if the corrupt officials are people who supported him or voted for him.

Photo: MIA