Krushevo, 26 April 2024 (MIA) - The struggle, both formally legally and politically, starts from scratch as if there had been no first round. On May 8, not only here in Krushevo will we celebrate, but also across Macedonia, presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski said during the meetings with the residents of Krushevo, urging them to come out in large numbers to vote on May 8.

He dismissed the opposition's accusations that he would boycott the second round of the presidential elections.

“You probably heard yesterday, today, since the first round ended, our political opponents who are still convinced they will win, let them live in that belief, they start spreading these rumors they were talking about even in the first round, that the difference would be so great and we would have no chance to win, so we would have boycotted. Is it logical for me to come to Krushevo if I intend to boycott? I intend to win with all of you, and whoever wants can boycott,” Pendarovski said.

He noted that he did not boycott in 2014, 2019, or 2016, and, as he stated, he will not boycott the elections in 2024 either.

"Let them think about the final outcome. We all know it, and instead of boycotting, we will celebrate. In the past and today, the people of Krusevo have always known how to make the right decision. They proved it in the first round of the presidential elections. I know that on May 8th, their choice will be number 1. Macedonia deserves a non-partisan president of all citizens regardless of their ethnic, religious, or political affiliation," Pendarovski said.

Pointing out that interethnic relations and the foundations of our state are based on the idea, on the concept of the Krushevo Manifesto, presidential candidate Pendarovski from Krushevo said that instead of a new Constitution, the citizens of this country need better living conditions, a better economy, and more significant investments, more jobs and opportunities for the youth to stay at home, in their homeland.

“We don't need to regress in history, we don't need someone to be above or below. What we need is a better economy, improved social welfare, more investments, and more jobs. If we achieve that, we can consider the mandate a success. Anything else is squabbling with neighbors, with our closest ones, and regional disputes with neighbors, and that is detrimental,” Pendarovski said.

In this regard, he added that he will continue to advocate for the concept of unity, as he believes that all citizens must be equal.

"We have always been a multi-ethnic state, and the only recipe for prosperity is to respect each other," Pendarovski added.

Pendarovski, in Krushevo at the Makedonium monument, also laid fresh flowers on the grave of the first president of the Krushevo Republic, Nikola Karev.

Photo: Pendarovski’s Facebook page