Skopje, 7 August 2024 (MIA) – Following Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s remarks claiming the DUI leadership has been planning to destabilize the country this coming fall, the opposition party called them “fake propaganda and allegations” all the while proposing international vetting for high corruption. VMRO-DPMNE urged DUI to stop hiding behind “vetting manoeuvre” stressing that no one is above the law. 

On Monday, Mickoski said he had information that DUI will take steps to destabilize the country, adding the government has the full right to defend the country’s territorial sovereignty and integrity. 

“We expect it to happen in the fall, based on the information we have, but time will tell whether the information is correct or not," Mickoski noted.

Backing up Mickoski’s claims, Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski confirmed there was information shared that DUI had destabilization plan.

In a TV appearance yesterday, he stressed that the Interior Ministry and other institutions will respond adequately saying the citizens shouldn’t worry about the country’s security. 

On Tuesday, DUI leader Ali Ahmeti had a meeting with top party officials ahead of today’s meeting of the central presidency. Talks in the meeting focused on “the fake propaganda and high corruption allegations.”

“The party is committed to not letting the fight against corruption to turn into a battle for daily and partisan interest, but to keep serving as a tool for preventing this harmful phenomenon. We call on all political parties, mainly the ruling ones, to request, without delay, a monitoring from the international community for comprehensive vetting of all public officials in the past 30 years. This step is key to increase transparency and restore public trust,” said DUI in a press release. 

Reacting to DUI’s press release, VMRO-DPMNE urged the opposition party to stop hiding behind such manoeuvres. “Justice is coming in Macedonia and we will prove to you that no one is above the law,” said VMRO-DPMNE.

“It’s time for investigation into what exactly you have been doing and what all the politicians have been doing regardless of their ethnic, religious and party background. It doesn’t require international vetting. There are laws in this country and they only need to be applied for everyone equally,” said the press release.  

The ruling party also called on SDSM leader Venko Filipche “to stop making dark deals with this party that might threaten democracy and the legal state.”

A couple of days ago, Filipche  urged Mickoski to share any information he might have on destabilization of the country with the relevant institutions.

"Otherwise, he becomes an accomplice or a political factor who may have an interest in such a situation. The information about destabilization that the Prime Minister speaks about for two days in a row causes unrest among the citizens, and it is his personal responsibility to prevent such a situation. If he does not share the information himself, I call on the investigative authorities to initiate proceedings and investigate these allegations. As the leader of SDSM, which is a responsible party, I always oppose any form of destabilization. Also, manipulation with citizens' feelings and causing a state of tension must not be allowed, without specific action by the state," Filipche posted on Facebook. 

Echoing Filipche’s sentiments, SDSM spokeswoman Bogdanka Kuzeska at a news conference also called on Mickoski to clarify the allegations all the while urging President Gordana Siljanovska – Davkova to convene the Security Council and the prosecution to open an investigation. 

Asked whether the Security Council will be convened, the President’s office responded to MIA with a short “No”.

MP Bekim Sali of the Worth It coalition, the government junior partner, said he has no information on alleged destabilization by DUI.

MIA file photos