Skopje, 26 September 2023 (MIA) - VMRO-DPMNE has a system of cleansing, of catharsis. It has already done that several times before, and it is one of the reasons for the party's survival as the strongest political party. It is what we are doing now as well, in terms of the former party leader Nikola Gruevski, said VMRO-DPMNE Vice-President Aleksandar Nikoloski. 

"People are fed up with behind-the-scenes deals by politicians. Macedonia has become a land of conspiracy theories in which people believe more because top politicians have been fuelling those theories with unprincipled and dirty deals behind the scenes. We want to put an end to that. Of course, this is neither easy to be done in one's own political party, but it must be done if the party is to be clean and healthy, so that it can make Macedonia healthy and clean from crime and corruption," Nikoloski told Kanal 5 TV. 

He stressed that the priority is VMRO-DPMNE's entry in the future government, adding that it is time for DUI to go in opposition.

"One of the basic things is to send the current ruling elite, particularly DUI, in opposition, and that is a prerequisite for a functional rule of law system. The second is to remove bad practices. It is very important what people carry within, we have a good team, and we have what is of key importance - people honest enough to make an honest country," said Nikoloski. 

In an interview with MRT1's 360 Degrees show on Monday, VMRO-DPMNE Vice-President Aleksandar Nikoloski shared materials claiming they are part of a secret communication between former VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski, DUI leader Ali Ahmeti, Parliament Speaker Talat Xhaferi and one more person. Nikoloski presented a USB drive that VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski mentioned in recent days, and also provided printed out content of the flash drive in three A4 pages.  

According to Nikoloski, this proved that Gruevski was part of a scenario to weaken VMRO-DPMNE. 

"This is the famous USB drive that contains the amendments to the Criminal Code. These amendments have been sent to Ali Ahmeti, Talat Xhaferi and a third address by the former VMRO-DPMNE leader," Nikoloski said on Monday. 

He pointed out that there is a clear trace of where the USB flash drive comes from.

"The mere fact that the text from the USB drive corresponds to the text passed in the Parliament on the amendments to the Criminal Code gives indications," said Nikoloski, adding that he had told the committee debate on the Criminal Code that such law would benefit the ruling party and former structures of the previous government. 

Nikola Gruevski's activities, he noted, have now been lasting for about a year and a half, and have intensified since February 2023. The communication with him was encouraged, mainly, by the political party DUI, and then by SDSM. Initially, according to Nikoloski, the plan was to draw VMRO-DPMNE MPs to vote for the constitutional amendments.

"After this option failed, the action is now taking place in order to weaken VMRO-DPMNE's result in the next elections. Everyone is aware that VMRO-DPMNE will win the most MPs in the elections, but an attempt is underway to make the result as such so as the party cannot form a government by itself," Nikoloski said, noting that in such a scenario VMRO-DPMNE would be blackmailed - either for the constitutional amendments, either for DUI to continue ruling as before or for something else.

Former prime minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski, on the other hand, told Infomax on Monday that he had nothing to do with the amendments to the Criminal Code and the so-called evidence of his alleged connection with SDSM were a lie. 

"I heard about that USB flash drive. It is like a white sheet of paper with something typed on it. Anyone can prepare a USB drive in 15 minutes and say it's from me. These people should focus on overthrowing the government, which should have fallen many times by now. Anyone can name the USB drive on their computer "Nikola Gruevski" and then say that the content comes from me," said Gruevski. 

He denied that the amendments to the Criminal Code were intended for the cases he is tried in, pointing out that if he were the one to order the amendments, he would have ordered amendments that apply for all his cases, not just one of them.

As regards Gruevski's statement that anyone can create any contents on a USB flash drive in just 15 minutes and give any name to it, Nikoloski told Kanal 5 TV that those who are more knowledgeable in computers than he is, know very well that traces are left behind, and the author of the USB flash drive contents as well as the computer on which it was created can be forensically examined. Nikoloski added that if they were not one hundred percent sure of what they were saying, they would not have said it in public.

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE and MIA archive