Skopje, 12 December 2021 (MIA) – The public had the opportunity to observe two models of party democracy – in one, the leader was elected by 500 people, in the other by 50,000 members in open and transparent elections, Jovan Despotovski, candidate for SDSM leader said after Sunday’s intra-party elections. Despotovski congratulated Dimitar Kovachevski on his victory and said that tomorrow he’ll resume contributing to the party as a regular member. “We can’t compare ourselves to our political opponent: let’s try to do more and better, be the avant-garde not just at home, but in the region and beyond. Concept 28 exists and continues to function,” Despotovski noted. Frosina Remenski also congratulated Kovachevski on the win. “We shared the idea of uniting the party, as well as ideas that can make us stronger, more self-critical and more successful. Concept 28 will put SDSM back on the winning track, I’m sure of that,” Remenski underlined and urged the party to unite. She added that she will offer the new party leader her critical position, as that’s the only way to make SDSM stronger and more objective when it comes to policy-creation. SDSM’s members voted in Sunday’s intra-party elections at 194 polling places nationwide. A total of 44,406 people, that is 86.5% of active members, cast their ballot in Sunday’s intra-party elections. No irregularities were registered during the voting process. Dimitar Kovachevski was elected as the new leader of SDSM, after winning a total of 37,649 votes. Kovachevski’s opponents Jovan Despotovski and Frosina Remenski won 3,319 and 2,836 votes respectively. 602 ballots were invalid.