Skopje, 24 April 2024 (MIA) - Today the people showed they love Macedonia. I promised we would win by a margin of at least 100,000 votes and we are winning by more than 170,000. This is VMRO-DPMNE's best result when in opposition, this is a yellow card for the government and the red must follow, said party leader Hristijan Mickoski after the first round of the presidential elections that sees their candidate Gordana Siljanovska Davkova in the lead.

"I promised a lot of things and they all materialized. I was attacked, even from the inside, I was threatened, they tried to divide us, divide Macedonia and its people. They used past VMRO-DPMNE structures but we persevered because we believed and because you were with us. Thank you, people of Macedonia," Mickoski told a press conference.

He said this is a big win for the Macedonian people, and the message is that the country is not afraid and is going back into the people's hands.

"Macedonia showed today it is stronger than crime and corruption and that people are determined," added Mickoski.

He said results are satisfactory but noted that the job is not done.

"Numbers are showing that the authorities are going down. This is VMRO-DPMNE's best result when in opposition. Over 600,000 people voted against the authorities. This is a revolution of the people of Macedonia. Nevertheless, the job is not done and the authorities are not naive. The first round is the yellow card but the red card must follow on May 8. We need a convincing result, a clear win over this criminal and corrupt government," said Mickoski.

Mickoski said that prior to the press conference he talked to Arben Taravari, the presidential candidate of the ethnic Albanian opposition, congratulating him on the result and wishing him success in the upcoming parliamentary elections and "the future government in Macedonia".

"Macedonia will mobilize all capacities - the best Macedonians, Albanians, Turks, Roma, Serbs, Vlachs, Bosniaks. This is your country, it is time to get it back in your hands so we can write a new history to be proud of. Let's not allow DUI to succeed in its intentions in the runoff. Therefore, I call on you to come out and vote for Macedonia to be proud again and yours again," said Mickoski. 

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE