Skopje, 14 June 2026 (MIA) – VMRO-DPMNE on June 17 at the stadium in Strumica will celebrate the party’s birthday before talks for government reshuffle start, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Sunday responding to a journalist’s question after opening a new nursing home in Skopje’s Ilinden municipality. On possible early elections, he said his party VMRO-DPMNE wants regular elections “but if it is challenged, it will run in early elections and it will win.”

“After the birthday, which takes place June 17 in Strumica at the stadium, we’ll start having talks with the government coalition partners over government reshuffle,” Mickoski said speaking to members of the media. 

Commenting on accusations by the opposition SDSM that the government will call for elections because it has spent state funds and that they won’t be an alibi for early elections, Mickoski said there is no logic between the two. 

Our position, he said, is that there should be no early elections, because we won a four-year term and we want to go on regular elections in the spring of 2028, but if we are challenged, we have to be ready like ant serious political party. 

“I won’t interfere in their strategy. In politics, when you are halfway through your term, it’s logical to be prepared for elections, be it regular or early,” Mickoski said reiterating; “We have no intention to call for early elections, we want regular elections.” 

Photo: MIA