Skopje, 10 August 2025 (MIA) - My campaign for the local elections will offer solutions for the problems of citizens, who are fed up with negative campaigns, says Kisela Voda Mayor and VMRO-DPMNE candidate for Skopje Mayor, Orce Gjeorgjievski, in an interview with MIA.

Gjeorgjievski is an optimist he will win the elections in the first round, noting a general clean-up operation will be the first thing he will do, "because the citizens deserve a clean city".

He believes that the support by the citizens of Skopje will come based on the results he has accomplished in Kiseva Voda over the past years.

Gjeorgievski says his election programme will be unveiled very soon and will be composed of five pillars.

Over the past month, you met with citizens while preparing your programme for the October 19 local elections. Is the programme ready and what are the key promises for the citizens?

We have already started to meet with citizens because I believe that the best way to create and draft an election programme is together with the people. We have had numerous meetings in almost all municipalities within the City of Skopje. Key demands have emerged, things that the city has struggled with for decades. We will unveil the draft-programme very soon. It will include five pillars for my work in the next four years. Although I come from VMRO-DPMNE, this is not a programme for one political party but for all citizens of Skopje, regardless of ethnicity, religion and political affiliation. We are making a comprehensive analysis of the situation and the citizens' real needs, and we will present concrete projects shortly.

Can you tell us some details about the programme's five pillars?

I would not go into details, but the city's hygiene and problems related to its management will surely be one, as will air pollution. I will not give false promises because I care about the people's support. Everything within the programme will have specific deadlines. Our city is facing major problems related to water supply and road infrastructure, a lot of projects are delayed, such as the Boris Trajkovski boulevard or the bridge linking Aerodrom with Gazi Baba. Therefore, these five pillars will include all projects within the election programme.

You have said that you will focus on problems that Skopje has had for decades. What will be your approach in solving these problems?

The system within the City of Skopje is not functional and unfortunately there is no strategy for the city's development. This is not a present problem, one of four years ago but for decades back. If we don't have a functional system, it is irrelevant who manages the city. It might be a bit better or worse, depending on the person in the post, but we will never face problems as we are seeing right now - total collapse of the public enterprises for waste management and public transport. Skopje lacks strategy for its development in the coming 5, 10, 15, 20 years, and the least this strategy needs is the involvement of politics.

In your discussions with the citizens, did you detect some problems that have not been in the forefront but are important for the city?

In general, people are not highlighting problems that are recent. For example, there are water supply problems in Gjorche Petrov municipality and the City of Skopje has a project for this purpose that costs EUR 2.5-2.7 million, which is not difficult to realize, considering the city's budget. In addition, we have decades-long problems related to landfills that impact people's health, such as the one in Vardarishte, which causes problems in the autumn and winter periods for the people of Aerodrom and Kisela Voda. The problems have been the same for decades back. I understand the people, because they have been lied to over the past 30 years. That is why it is important for me that the programme is based on realistic implementation of projects. Four years go by very fast. The realization of projects in my municipality stands at 90 percent. It is important to hold your head high before citizens at the end of your term.

What will be your first project if you are elected Skopje Mayor?

I wouldn't say a project, but our city needs a general clean-up operation, because the current situation does not reflect our wishes as citizens of the country's capital. Unfortunately, Skopje has turned into a big landfill in recent years. The public transport issue also needs an urgent solution. We have a plan, we have a concept. Therefore, a big clean-up operation from day one of my term, as well as regulation of the public transport, in order to give the citizens the services they deserve.

Will you urge citizens to help, not by cleaning, but through their future behaviour?

Besides the institutions, a small percentage of the population also bears the blame for this issue. As Kisela Voda Mayor, I have continually urged citizens to take care of the environment, because we are all living here, we are all breathing the same air, our children grow up here, our grandchildren will have to live here. I will do the same in the City of Skopje, but will also penalize all those manifesting improper conduct.

The first round of elections is set for October 19, while the runoff is slated for November 2. What are your projections, a win in the first round?

I am always overly optimistic but based on real data. I had five opponents in Kisela Voda but won overwhelmingly in the first round by a double margin. Considering the surveys, I expect the same in the City of Skopje. Although I come from VMRO-DPMNE, I am a person who operates through inclusion. This is how I have been operating over the past four years, and you can see that people from different political backgrounds have joined my team as well. Skopje is a city for all citizens, regardless of the political affiliation, ethnicity or religion. Skopje belongs to all those who love it. Together with my team, I believe we will win in the first round or have a big lead after the first round. You can feel the citizens' mood during the meetings I have had with them in almost all municipalities, the wish for a change. When I got involved into politics, I was aware that one day I will have to leave it, and I am therefore very cautious when giving promises. People in Kisela Voda recognized this and therefore my biggest support comes from there. I believe that all Skopje citizens have recognized this as well.

What kind of campaign do you expect and want?

Politics is a contest of concepts and ideas, offering the best solutions for decades-long problems of citizens. I do not want negative campaigns or plan such campaigns. I don't know what other political parties are planning but that is up to them. I will offer solutions for problems, this is what we, politicians, should do. Less talk, more work. When it comes to campaigns, we have to unite the people, but at the same time offer a good concept and good approach, so that we solve the citizens' real problems. No one cares about past or present comments about politicians. All citizens want to live in a proper and safe environment. Therefore, I believe that citizens are fed up with negative campaigns and the blame game. What is missing is realization of projects.

You have been the Kisela Voda Mayor for the past four years. What are the projects you most proud of?

There are many projects we have implemented. When it comes to education, I am proud that we have managed to put photovoltaic power stations on all elementary schools in the municipality, thus eliminating the problem of high electricity bills. A new primary school is being built in Drachevo settlement, the first in 100 years. Several primary schools are being refurbished and enlarged, so that all pupils can attend classes in the first shift. We also have ten kindergartens and the waiting lists have been reduced to zero. When I came to the post, the waiting lists were about 400 children. We also launched the construction of several sport halls in all schools. In addition, we have built a number of several parks, sports fields and multifunctional playgrounds. Above all, we have constructed over 70km of streets and added about 15km of water supply and sewage systems. The cherry on the top is the reconstruction of the Rasadnik sports hall. Let me thank Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski for the strong support in this project, and expect such support when running the City of Skopje as well.

Elizabeta Veljanovska Najdeska

Video: Srgjan Krstikj and Andrej Brankovikj

Photo: Darko Popov