Skopje, 30 June 2024 (MIA) - Jovan Despotovski, who is running in SDSM’s leadership race, told media Sunday that he expects the principle of a democratic election process will be respected until the end of the day, but stressed that he has had reports of many party members who were unable to vote. SDSM, he said, is a political party that mustn’t allow itself to turn away its members from the polling stations.

“Today is a great day for SDSM. Today we are electing a party leader. It’s good that people are coming out to vote. I expect that all the energy we managed to mobilize over the past few days, energy for change, to be effectuated today through the vote. I expect that the principle of a democratic election process will be respected until the end of the day, and that the members of SDSM will choose a new beginning that should start as soon as tomorrow,” Despotovski said.

Despotovski said it is concerning that many SDSM members weren’t allowed to vote, despite meeting all requirements for it.

“We discussed this topic with my team the past few days, we submitted an official request that all members of the party who show up to the polling stations are allowed to fulfill their constitutionally guaranteed right. All of these cases are being registered, we have oversight over all polling stations in the country, in all municipal organizations. Regardless of the outcome of the vote, the next few days we will have to work as a political party to clear up all these cases,” Despotovski said.

Asked to comment on the withdrawal of former Defense Minister and current MP, Slavjanka Petrovska, from the leadership contest, Despotovski said he is still waiting to see proof of the alleged irregularities.

“I am waiting to see proof of the alleged irregularities during the procedure that Slavjanka announced. Once they are presented, my legal team and I will provide an appropriate opinion,” Despotovski said. 

Photo: MIA