Gostivar, 17 April 2024 (MIA) — We did not take the next, very important step toward the EU only because the main opposition party has been putting stumbling blocks on Macedonia's path over the past two and a half years, President Stevo Pendarovski told a reelection rally in Gostivar.

"We could have done better. However, in this international context, with this internal opposition, which does not know what the state interests of Macedonia are, believe me, it was very difficult to achieve more than this.

"With these obstructions on the inside, and with obstructions from the outside — a war on the continent — we would not have believed that we could even get here," Pendarovski said.

Speaking about his opponents, he said they were portraying themselves as "the most Macedonian and patriotic party" and pledging to withdraw from bilateral agreements but they had no plans for the country's future.

"When you ask them what happens after the withdrawal, they say: 'We will start negotiating again.' Do you have any guarantees that anyone from outside will support you and renegotiate, leading to an outcome that is good for the people, for the citizens, for the state?

"They don't. They don't have a single international friend. That's why, when they come before you, they tell you, 'Give us power and we will tell you what our plans are tomorrow'," Pendarovski said. mr/