Skopje, 22 January 2026 (MIA) - SDSM leader Venko Filipche told journalists Thursday he has no intention of stepping down from his post because, he said, his main goal is to continue to fighting for society’s recovery, the eradication of corruption, and the return of the country to the European path.

At a press conference, Filipche said the criticism of his leadership by former SDSM officials is coming from “individuals who have been blackmailed or bought,” adding that “SDSM’s real members and supporters recognize these attempts to weaken the opposition.”  

“I believe in what I am doing. I am a person who works precisely and I carefully calculated before accepting this position. I want this society to recover, to be free of corruption, for the reforms to be implemented and for us to join the European Union. That is my strategic goal,” Filipche said.

Filipche added that the opposition’s fight would continue intensively, stressing that, in his view, the country is “economically on the brink” and that the current government is leading it toward isolation.

The opposition leader said SDSM remains a fully united party, with “a synchronized and compact” parliamentary group, and that a process of internal consolidation in the party’s municipal organizations is underway.

“My work is founded on honest intentions and I believe that if the citizens give us their vote at the next elections, we will be able to lead the country as a real European democracy, without corruption,” Filipche added. 

Photo: SDSM