Skopje, 20 September 2025 (MIA) - Instead of providing direct support to citizens, the authorities are pressuring them not to speak about real problems, emphasized the president of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia, Venko Filipche, at Saturday's working meeting in Struga with SDSM candidates for mayors and councilors ahead of the upcoming local elections.

According to SDSM, Filipche stated that “apart from the falsehoods that enabled VMRO-DPMNE to come to power, there is now direct pressure on citizens, particularly unions, workers, and families wanting to organize and publicly express their dissatisfaction.”

“People are being pressured not to speak publicly. Unions and workers are all scared. They receive threats by phone, police show up at their homes. In Kochani, after the fire, police entered families’ homes to prevent protests and organization,” Filipche said.

In his address, Filipche noted that VMRO-DPMNE’s government functions in the same way as Nikola Gruevski’s regime.

“We are facing the very system that Nikola Gruevski implemented, identical in running the country and managing citizens’ needs,” Filipche highlighted.

He added that SDSM remains committed to solidarity and citizens’ welfare, ensuring that all issues, even long-standing ones, will be addressed.

“We will continue openly, transparently, and inclusively. Everyone will have the door open to submit proposals and be heard. No one will be discriminated against on any basis, including political affiliation. During the previous VMRO-DPMNE government, people had nothing to compare to, now they do. Now they can feel the difference,” Filipche said.

Photo: SDSM