Skopje, 3 November 2025 (MIA) — VMRO-DPMNE's wins in the local elections have "painted Macedonia red," the party's vice president Vlado Misajlovski told a press conference Monday.

"From Kichevo to Kochani, from Brvenica to Valandovo, citizens made the right choice. Having won in 54 municipalities and the City of Skopje, VMRO-DPMNE is the absolute winner of these local elections," Misajlovski said, adding that this meant the governing coalition was "more than stable and legitimate, winning in 66 municipalities out of 81."

"This great victory is also a great responsibility and an obligation to work and deliver results," he said.

Misajlovski thanked VMRO-DPMNE and the coalition's supporters for voting. "We promise that we will not disappoint and deface you," Misajlovski said. "We need to have a clear conscience, and we will do this through work and projects."

He said VMRO-DPMNE's candidate Aleksandar Jovanovski's winning the Kichevo mayoral race "led to the fall of Fatmir Dehari and DUI" and he thanked members of the Albanian, Roma, Turkish, Vlach, Serbian, Bosniak and all other ethnic communities who had cast their ballots.

Misajlovski also spoke about Jovica Ilievski, who won the Brvenica mayoral vote; Sotir Lukovski, who won the Karposh mayoral vote; and Orce Gjorgjievski, who won the Skopje mayoral vote. He said the new Skopje mayor-elect had "a lot of work to do."

"The citizens also voted for change in Valandovo, in Dojran, in Debrca, in Demir Kapija, in Krushevo, in Probishtip, in Rosoman, in Chucher Sandevo," he said, adding that these municipalities would now be led by VMRO-DPMNE party members.

"We also won in Aerodrom, Vinica, Konche, Negotino, Lozovo, Makedonski Brod, Mogila, Rankovce, Cheshinovo-Obleshevo," he said.

VMRO-DPMNE's vice president also urged their political opponents SDSM and DUI "to reform" and offer constructive feedback and support the government's reforms.

"Macedonia needs a constructive opposition, which will provide justified criticism and support for the reforms," he said.

"Reshuffling a few people," Misajlovski said, "is not the reform they need." 

"The problem in SDSM is Filipche," he said, calling SDSM leader Venko Filipche "the extended hand" of former SDSM leader Zoran Zaev. 

He also said as long as Filipche was at the helm of the party, SDSM would keep sinking.

Misajlovski also mentioned voters who spoiled their ballots and those who did not go to the polls at all.

"We will work to change their opinions though work and projects. Enough already of Macedonia being apathetic. It is time we changed things and showed that the people deserve more. Our citizens deserve more," VMRO-DPMNE's vice president said. 

"And at this very moment, VMRO-DPMNE's president and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski is in Brussels actively fighting for our EU membership efforts. We need to be proud, dignified and have integrity," he said. mr/