Skopje, 28 April 2024 (MIA) – SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski at Sunday evening’s rally in Krushevo stated that if the idea of an independent Macedonian state was first realized in Krushevo, then the idea of a European Macedonia will also begin from there, thanks to Macedonians, Vlachs, and all other communities living in our country.

“Imagine if ASNOM members had given up at the first obstacle on their path to the Macedonian state. Imagine if our predecessors in the 90s had abandoned the idea of an independent Macedonia. That would be equivalent to us giving up on our goal, for a European Macedonia,” Kovachevski said.

According to him, that implies abandoning the idea of a better life.

“That's why SDSM has always been and will remain the strongest party in Macedonia. A party that doesn't give up when facing the toughest challenges, a party that doesn't waver when difficult decisions are required. Anyone who thought they could defeat us has ended up forgotten by history. And so, no one should even think for a moment that we will give up now,” he added.

Kovachevski noted that they are aware of, as he said, "the punishment in the first round of elections," and stated that the message has been received.

“We need to sit down, have discussions about the problems first among ourselves, just as we do with the citizens. And only then can we correct all mistakes and together build a better and more prosperous future for the citizens,” he said.

“I'm aware that many citizens still haven't made up their minds about whom to vote for. That's why I urge them to consider carefully who deserves to lead the country. They should think about whether they want to vote for or against. Voting against won't benefit Macedonia. Only by voting for can we move forward and build a better country for our children, a country they'll want to live in,” Kovachevski stated, urging citizens to vote for presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski and the Coalition for European Future in the parliamentary elections.

Jovan Mitreski, list principal in the fifth election district, said they are not giving up on the future because the majority of citizens, as he stated, want to see Macedonia modern, developed, without divisions, and without interethnic tensions.

“We must not allow the youth to become victims of politicians who want to take us back 30 years, we must not allow ethnic division to be our theme in the coming years,” he said.
The candidates underlined that they understood the message from the citizens from the first round of elections and pointed out that they have a responsibility for the future of the country.

List co-principal and Minister of Culture, Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojchevska, highlighted that only SDSM is the party founded on true social democratic ideals and thinking.

“All the others are just manipulating social-democratic values and are already prepared to sell them to the right-wing conservative ideology. There, there's nothing social-democratic, just a desire to gather votes from true social democrats, and we mustn't allow them to do that,” she stated.

MP candidate from Krushevo, Mitko Trajchuleski, aid that SDSM will fight, as he said, for the most important battle, to create a European state.

“"I know that there are still citizens who are facing many problems, but I must and want to be honest that the obligation to offer more and better is precisely what leads us forward, to continue in the right direction,” he said.

Photo: print screen