Kumanovo, 30 April 2024 (MIA) - SDSM presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski called on the citizens of Kumanovo on Tuesday for massive turnout in the May 8 elections, so that the country continues to move forward on the European path.

Regarding the election results in the first round, Pendarovski pointed out that there were seven candidates and hence the difference. The five candidates who failed in the first round, he noted, together had 330,000 votes, and are close to the concept he stands for. However, he said that he will not get those votes automatically and called on the citizens to back the concept that brings future and progress.

"Don't get discouraged in the second round. We start in a formal sense from scratch. Although I see the opponent is insisting that the results of the two rounds are added up, we are starting from scratch and each of you should think carefully before voting for number 1 or number 2," said Pendarovski.

He stressed that there were substantial differences between him and his opponent backed by VMRO-DPMNE who was advocating for adoption of a new Constitution because supposedly relations between the communities were arranged many years ago, which required them to be arranged in a new way.

"If someone challenges the Framework Agreement and you live in a multi-ethnic city, you know what that means, instead of changing the Constitution to move forward towards Europe, the lady who is backed by her party leader wants to make some kind of civil Constitution, which we've had at some points and it will lead to conflicts of inter-ethnic communities. It is a rather serious political concept, which, if the citizens support en masse or in a majority number on May 8th, it can surely take us back 15-20 years ago, since 23 years have passed since the year 2001," Pendarovski said. 

As regards the debates with Siljanovska Davkova, he said she has not answered the essential questions about the country. 

"Will they renegotiate the agreement we have with Brussels and why would they renegotiate it when the Macedonian identity and language are guaranteed there, and do they intend to enter into constitutional changes that are risky in themselves regarding anything in a multi-ethnic state," Pendarovski said. 

According to Pendarovski, the economy should be a priority in order to keep young people in the country.

Photo: MIA