Skopje, 13 October 2025 (MIA) – We went through seven difficult years during which the previous Government of SDSM and DUI created chaos, destruction, division, and a lot of crime. The people have not forgotten those years of apathy and hopelessness, no matter how much effort is made today to erase that period. Just 15 months ago, those same individuals were the cause of all injustices and failures. Now, they cannot be the alternative that delivers results, said VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski at a rally in the Municipality of Chashka on Monday evening.

In response to a statement made on Sunday by SDSM leader Venko Filipche, who said inflation is high, Mickoski stressed that during SDSM’s time in power, inflation reached over 20 percent.

"I realized that in this campaign, in these elections, not only have they failed to learn the lesson from the past, but they continue to repeat the same mistake. And when they’re not running a smear campaign, they’re not telling the truth, they’re lying, and now they claim there is record-high inflation. Just a year and a half or two years ago, Macedonia had the highest inflation rate in Europe, which at times exceeded 20 percent," Mickoski said.

The VMRO-DPMNE leader said these elections are a decision about the future.

"These elections are a decision about your future and the future of your children. You are choosing the person who will care for your neighborhood, your street, your municipality. With that choice, you want someone who will be your voice in the municipality, someone you can rely on when you need help, someone who will listen when you have something to say, who will work and solve problems," Mickoski said.

Mickoski noted that one option at these elections – VMRO-DPMNE and its coalition – would move the country forward, while the other – SDSM and their “somewhat formal, somewhat informal coalition” – would move the country and citizens backwards.

"The campaign so far has shown that the choice is easily recognizable. But the decision to go out and vote is critically important to secure the future. We are presenting a plan, a program, and a vision backed by carefully selected projects and solutions that respond to your needs. We aren’t promising miracles, miracles are impossible. We are not miracle workers, and anyone who promises miracles is not telling the truth. We promise hard, honest, and dedicated work," Mickoski said.

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE