Skopje, 14 February 2025 (MIA) - VMRO-DPMNE said Friday there has been no discussion over a change of the national anthem, nor will there be any in the future. 

"The DUI matrix of ethnicization on all important issues, and the SDS ping-pong politics should stop. There has been no discussion over a change of the national anthem, nor will there be any in the future. Citizens can rest assured. The time of DUI and SDS, of failure and defeat on all issues, in order to cover up crime, is over," the party said in a press release. 

SDSM said that besides discussions over a change of the national emblem, there may also be discussions over a change of the national anthem. 

"The first dilemma here is that maybe, by putting out this proposal for a change of the national emblem, is the coalition with Worth It also mulling a change of the national anthem? VMRO-DPMNE should answer this question," SDSM leader Venko Filipche told a press conference on Thursday. 

In response to a reporter's question regarding a change of the national emblem, Minister of Health Arben Taravari, who comes from the ranks of the Worth It coalition, said earlier on Friday that they are ready to discuss everything, i.e. discuss a package of measures that will resolve all outstanding issues from the past.

According to Taravari, Macedonia is one of the few post-socialist countries whose national emblem has not been changed. 

"The Worth It coalition is ready to discuss everything. Unfortunately, in the past period, several sensitive topics, so to speak, were swept under the rug and were somehow hidden, we did not want to face them. We are ready to discuss a package of measures that will resolve all outstanding issues from the past 20–30 years, why not include the national emblem and the national anthem and the '20 percent' wording and other ethnic issues if there are any, and finally focus on the economy, European integration, anti-corruption... That is what the citizens are interested in, better wages, better life...," said Taravari. 

Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski confirmed on Wednesday that VMRO-DPMNE and Worth It have opened discussions over a change of the national emblem.

"We are one of only two post-socialist countries that still have the old national emblem, with some minor modifications," said Mickoski.

Photo: MIA archive