Negotino, 29 April 2024 (MIA) – SDSM leader Dimitar Kovachevski addressed a rally in Negotino on Monday.

He said citizens remember the threat of remaining without regular services in the municipalities when VMRO-DPMNE came to power.

He stressed he was aware that SDSM’s inclusiveness and the concept of one society for all has often been abused by certain political forces and structures in the country, for personal gain.

Kovachevski noted that with SDSM the country has become an EU candidate. 

“SDSM together with the citizens overthrew Gruevski's regime. A regime that was blocking our entire future. Thanks to SDSM, Macedonia became an equal NATO member, and we see the effects today. I guarantee you, SDSM, together with you, the citizens, will bring the country into the EU and we will not give up on that. I, and all of us in SDSM, may be paying the price of difficult decisions, but that must not deter us from the idea of ​​moving forward and essential progress of the country. Macedonia must be a European country and there is no other way to make real and tangible changes at home,” Kovachevski pointed out.

He urged those citizens who chose not to vote on April 24 to go to the polls now and cast their vote for the European future.

“We are open for future cooperation with all progressive and pro-European forces. We call for mass mobilization of all progressive citizens on May 8. We must move forward, we must not allow ourselves to go back into unrest, internal divisions and conflicts! The way forward is clear – a future in the European Union, shoulder to shoulder with Western democracies. These elections, I call on you to vote for a European and secure and better future for Macedonia. Let's not allow ourselves to go back to the time of the 11-year rule of Gruevski and DPMNE,” Kovachevski said. 

He added that citizens who will go to the polls on May 8 must keep in mind that the country’s future is under serious threat.

“If a right-wing party gains such power, with all state resources at its disposal, we may face the end of our European perspective. It will also put an end to independent media,” Kovachevski noted.

Jovanka Trenchevska, list co-principal in the fourth election district, said SDSM has seven years of dedicated and tireless work behind them to improve the standard of living of citizens, making difficult decisions, caring for everyone and moving forward.

“But obviously we have made mistakes somewhere along the way. And you sent us the message for those mistakes in the first round of the presidential elections,” she said, noting that the people’s message has been understood, and it was not all about more rights, higher wages and pensions but the system was important, its functionality, healthcare, education, judiciary.

List co-principal Venko Filipche called for mass turnout for the sake of generations that come, without succumbing to old regime policies which threaten the future.

MP candidate Lolita Ristova and list principle in the third election district and incumbent Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Economy Ljupcho Nikolovski also addressed the rally. 

The rally heard among other promises of commitment and hard work, a lot of new projects, calling for support in the May 8 elections so that the country can continue on the right path to EU membership.

Photo: MIA