Skopje, 14 November 2024 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Thursday that citizens do not want early parliamentary elections, but VMRO-DPMNE and the coalition are always ready for elections.

"I have reiterated this many times. Citizens do not want early parliamentary elections, and that is clear, all polls confirm it. Even passers-by meet me on the street and say that they would vote for us again, but why waste funds, let us deliver what we prepared. I understand, some opposition parties believe that they can attract a lot of attention this way," Mickoski said at today's "Dialogue Between the Business Sector and the Government" business forum.

VMRO-DPMNE, as a political party, and the coalition are always prepared for elections, he added.

"Yesterday we held a long session of the party’s Executive Committee that lasted well into the early hours of the morning. The party is consolidated, absolutely functional, we can go for that as early as tomorrow, but that is not the point. We need to deliver what the real heroes need, and they need a climate for business, to invest, employ, and thus grow as a country. Local elections are scheduled for next year, and citizens on those local elections will say whether parliamentary elections are needed or not," Mickoski noted.

He added that if parliamentary elections are needed, they can be organized immediately after the local elections. 

"If parliamentary elections are needed, we can organize them immediately afterwards. If they say that VMRO-DPMNE's government and coalition have a red card, and vote for DUI and SDSM’s mayors, then the message is clear, we won't ignore it. We are not SDSM and DUI who ignored people's message in 2021 and stayed in government by force. We will not ignore that message, which is why the local elections next year will be a test. If the coalition of Levica, SDSM, and DUI defeats the government coalition, then we have absolutely nothing to say. If we win, we expect them to finally turn inwards, reform as new people with new program ideas, and meet again at the regularly scheduled parliamentary elections in 2028," Mickoski said. 

Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) leader Ali Ahmeti, told yesterday's meeting with citizens in Kichevo that early parliamentary elections will be held along with the local elections next year in October.

"Hristijan Mickoski openly said at a Q&A session in Parliament - let's go to the polls. I am holding him to his word. Local and parliamentary elections will be held in October next year," Ahmeti said. ssh/nn/

Photo: MIA