Skopje, 4 December 2023 (MIA) – VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski said Monday that a broad consensus was reached over the date for the next presidential and parliamentary elections (April 24 and May 8, 2024), as well as over changes to the Electoral Code based on the recommendations of OSCE/ODIHR. Regarding the constitutional amendments, Mickoski said the position of VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition is that there are currently no conditions for the amendments.

“We reached an agreement over amendments to the Electoral Code in line with the recommendations of the OSCE/ODIHR, and they will enter parliamentary procedure. So, the Code will change even though the rule of no changes six months before the beginning of election campaign is not being respected… I hope in the future this will not be the case,” said Mickoski at a press conference after the leaders' meeting.

The VMRO-DPMNE leader said a complex period lies ahead, and that the next elections will determine what kind of country and society the people want to live in.

“On one side, we will have an offer that will be presented by the current ruling coalition, while on the other side we will have an offer provided by the current opposition led by VMRO-DPMNE. There will be no chance to correct what we do on April 24 and then on May 8. I urge the citizens to stand behind the offer that will transform Macedonia into a country that we want to see,” said Mickoski.

Regarding the caretaker government, Mickoski said the issue was raised at the meeting, but there was no consensus, especially from the ruling coalition partners, to scrap the caretaker government. 

Asked about the empty position in the State Election Commission, Mickoski said it legally belongs to the opposition coalition of ethnic Albanian parties.

“I am concerned because the composition of the State Election Commission is yet to be finalized. I urge the parliamentary majority and the Speaker of Parliament to place this item on the agenda… Let’s not leave any room for shortcomings in the electoral process,” said Mickoski.

At the press conference after the meeting, Mickoski extended condolences to the families of the murdered Vanja Gjorchevska and Pancho Zhezhovski. 

Photo: MIA