Skopje, 29 September 2025 (MIA) - We will lead a positive campaign, we will promote our positive projects to be implemented by our mayors, said SDSM leader Venko Filipche in answer to a journalist’s question on Monday over the campaign for the local elections, adding that the party would also firmly, through arguments, criticize the bad policies and work of the mayors from other parties, “above all VMRO-DPMNE, we will firmly criticize their obstruction of Skopje due to partisan interests, so we can ensure the citizens are able to vote on the basis of facts”.

Asked if he expects VMRO-DPMNE to lead a negative campaign, Filipche said it wouldn’t surprise him considering the party’s “behavior over the past 7-8 years, the past year, and everything they are ready to orchestrate, do, fabricate”.

“Now I must send a message that being in power and in the opposition are not the same. All stakeholders who are in power should act a little more responsibly since they are working, above all, in the interest of the citizens,” Filipche said.

Regarding VMRO-DPMNE leader and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s statement earlier on Monday that there are two options at these elections – VMRO-DPMNE and “the SDSM, DUI, Levica coalition”, Filipche said there is no coalition between SDSM, DUI, and Levica.

“No, we don’t have a coalition with DUI nor with Levica. However, I do agree with the Prime Minister that the citizens have two options. One is a progressive, pro-European option that offers honest, good candidates, who have shown they know how to work for the good of the citizens, and that is SDSM. The other option is VMRO-DPMNE which employs fake campaigns, full of lies, slander, which has shown it can’t work, which has proven itself by obstructing and devastating the City of Skopje,” Filipche said at a joint press conference with the party’s candidate for Skopje Mayor, Kaja Shukova.

Photo: MIA