Skopje, 5 February 2026 (MIA) - SDSM leader Venko Filipche said Thursday he endorses the initiative filed in Parliament yesterday by the association of trade unions calling for public officials’ salaries to be slashed.

We support the initiative, he said, the issue is being discussed since it is causing anxiety to the unions and the workers.

“I, personally, and the whole parliamentary group, endorse the initiative. It should be made clear – it is party’s position – we are in favor of slashing the salaries of public officials. The role of the government is to help everyone,” Filipche said answering reporters’ questions at a news conference.

Asked about the protests held by groups of citizens who had their cars confiscated for not having driver’s licenses, Filipche said breaking of the law shouldn’t be tolerated. However, someone should talk with hem and offer them solutions in order the system to function, he said denying that his party stands behind the protests.

Asked about the country’s position as regards EU accession since public support has increased but the percentage of citizens in favor of constitutional changes remains small, the opposition leader said he is sure “some time will pass before we realize how fortunate we were to have had the French proposal and we would regret not accepting what was offered to us by the EU.”

“The fact that a mere 11 percent accept constitutional changes, to me, it suggests that to a large extent are being informed by centers spreading fake news. If you ask the government, no one has anything against the constitutional changes themselves, no one has anything against Bulgarians in the Constitutions. What we are concerned that after chapters are opened, we could again face some unprincipled demands affecting our identity characteristics. No one, not event us, accept this. That’s why I filed the draft resolution and so far, not a single party has responded,” he stated, mentioning that the document called for uniting over the country’s red lines.

According to Filipche, constitutional changes in the French proposal aren’t the only condition. One of the steps we have to make, he said, is to open secret police files because all former socialist countries had done it before joining the EU.

Photo: SDSM