Skopje, 15 March 2024 (MIA) — On behalf of DUI, party president Ali Ahmeti is holding talks with representatives of other political parties, non-governmental organizations as well as intellectuals and activists about joining a potential coalition for the upcoming parliamentary elections; as for SDSM, the parties are not very close to forming a coalition, Minister of Economy Kreshnik Bekteshi said Friday.

"All options are open until the deadline for submitting the lists," Bekteshi said.

Speaking about DUI's presidential candidate, Bujar Osmani, Bekteshi said he was "the most prepared candidate of all possible candidates, the most experienced candidate in terms of international politics and security policy."

"I encourage all other candidates," he said, "to take part in public debates with Osmani so citizens can evaluate what they offer and what has been done within the constitutional competences of the country's President."

Bekteshi said public opinion polls ahead of the parliamentary elections showed DUI would be the winning party from the ethnic Albanian bloc.

"Regarding a coalition with SDSM, at the moment we are not very close to creating any such coalition, but the most important thing is that when DUI wins, citizens win, and we already know that DUI will win the next parliamentary election," he said.

Asked if Ahmeti would step back from politics if DUI loses the election, he said the question should be addressed to Ahmeti.

"That is a question for Mr. Ahmeti. But I urge political parties to make a deal that whoever loses should no longer be involved in politics. We are throwing down the gauntlet and we invite all political parties, including VMRO-DPMNE as well," he said.

Asked if DUI would do the same if they lost the elections, Bekteshi said DUI had never lost an election and urged all parties "if they want, let's publicly sign that whoever loses the elections should no longer be involved in politics."

"But this won't happen because these so-called political party leaders – not only from the Macedonian opposition but other leaders as well — they all have lost elections. More than once. Many times. Only Ahmeti has never lost and will never lose an election," Bekteshi said.

In response to a question whether he would remain economy minister if DUI was part of the next government, Bekteshi said this was not important. "The most important thing is that DUI's idea, our vision, wins," he said. "When DUI wins, it will be good for our country's citizens, and it doesn't matter if it is Kreshnik or another one of my colleagues.

He added that the party was focused not on their personal interests but on the best interests of the country and its future.

According to Bekteshi, DUI was not discussing their parliamentary election victory but expecting it. As for the presidential election, he added, polls showed that Osmani held a lead over Arben Taravari and could make it to the runoff against one of the other presidential candidates. mr/