Skopje, 1 October 2025 (MIA) - The leader of opposition party SDSM, Venko Filipche, told journalists Wednesday the party’s draft-resolution on red lines in the EU negotiations provide clear protection for all identity features.

“This is yet another attempt by VMRO-DPMNE to spin the issue because they simply don’t want to continue the country’s European path. What lies behind this, whether there are any influences from foreign countries, remains to be seen in the coming period. Our proposal is clear. In our draft resolution, all previous documents and resolutions are contained, including the French proposal, in which we clearly state how all identity features are protected. We are now reiterating them. We are clearly stating what our red lines are. I regret that VMRO-DPMNE is once again trying to spin and avoid statesmanlike responsibility. They simply want to keep the country stuck where it is so they can manage it within the interests of their small group of VMRO-DPMNE leaders and associates,” Filipche said in response to accusations by VMRO-DPMNE that with the resolution he is looking for red lines to guard against the French proposal which he previously called a diplomatic victory and is now changing his position to remain at the helm of SDSM after the elections.

Filipche urged all political parties to back the resolution in order to ensure national consensus, “something which,” he said, “is present in all normal, developed countries”. The opposition leader said the resolution clearly outlines the language, identity, and culture as red lines that cannot be subject to negotiations.

Responding to a statement by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski that SDSM is trying to find a lifeline in the prosecution and judiciary, Filipche said the PM is shifting responsibility and that the failure to implement reforms lies exclusively with him.

“They haven’t done anything with the reforms in the joint document with the European Union called the ‘Reform Agenda’ which needs to be implemented and is what the citizens expect. The citizens expect a truly reformed, truly independent judiciary free of political influence so that trust can be restored in one of the key segments in the country. The Prime Minister can’t shift responsibility. The responsibility for the failure to implement reforms lies exclusively with him and his team. They were supposed to adopt 12 laws this year, and they haven’t adopted a single one, they haven’t even been submitted to Parliament. All they want to do is control the judiciary, maintain their relatives, friends, wives of mayors and of coalition partners in the judiciary, so they have their own people and are able to influence judicial proceedings. They don’t want anything other than that,” the opposition leader said.

On how he assesses the accusations equating SDSM with DUI-leader Ali Ahmeti and Levica, Filipche said the choice ahead of the citizens is clear.

“I outlined the two options facing the citizens clearly yesterday. Ours – a progressive, pro-European, and honest option, working for the benefit of the citizens. And theirs, VMRO-DPMNE's option, which is an option for a partisation of the institutions and the hiring of partisan staff. An option that sends a message to young people that as long as they are VMRO-DPMNE members, even if they have false degrees, they can be appointed to certain posts. These are the two options, and the citizens must know this,” Filipche said.

According to the opposition leader, VMRO-DPMNE lacks credibility to talk of secret coalitions by SDSM, since, he said, “it is they that worked with DUI and Levica in the past when they found it necessary”.

“If anyone was cooperating with DUI in the past year and a half, it was VMRO-PDMNE in the Parliament. How many times did they help them pass legislation that required a two-third majority. And now we heard a statement by the higher-ups in DUI that initiatives for meetings and cooperation existed before the elections,” Filipche said.

Asked if he expects to see any changes in the ruling coalition, Filipche said VMRO-DPMNE is ready to do anything for its personal interest.

“I think anything is possible when VMRO-DPMNE is involved. They don’t take seriously the things they promise, they say them so easily. We’ve seen that now and in the past year, and we’re witnessing that a huge number of the promises and statements they made four years ago, in places where they now have mayors, simply haven’t been fulfilled. I believe they’re willing to do anything for their narrow party and personal interests,” he said.

Filipche emphasized that SDSM is not cooperating with DUI and Levica at the local elections. “We do not have such cooperation. Our political campaign is conducted with our coalition partners in the current coalition. We are offering the best candidates. These are people who can fully take on all types of responsibility – moral, personal – they have the capacity, legitimacy, and credibility to stand before the citizens and realize the programs they promise. That is the authentic coalition of SDSM and its partners,” Filipche stressed.

Photo: MIA