Sveti Nikole, 12 October 2025 (MIA) — For SDSM, these are not elections to save Macedonia, but to save their own careers; they are afraid of taking responsibility and the small group that has taken SDSM hostage has put the entire country of Macedonia under pressure, VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski told a campaign rally in Sveti Nikole ahead of the Oct. 19 local elections.

"I tell you the truth while looking you in the eye, no matter whether Filipche hates me or despises me, like he said at one of his last rallies. That he despises me doesn't worry me as much as the bigger problem of his: the insults, the rude words an intellectual should not be saying no matter how angry he may be at me and VMRO-DPMNE," Mickoski said.

He also said SDSM's approval ratings were low and their Skopje mayoral candidate would not fare well at the polls.

"In the capital, for example, the expectations are that their candidate for mayor of Skopje will not reach beyond 30,000 votes. Which is, essentially, far below their biological minimum and is enough to compete not against VMRO-DPMNE and Orce Gjorgjievski in Skopje but against some of the independent candidates," Mickoski said.

VMRO-DPMNE's Sveti Nikole mayoral candidate Dejan Vladev running for another term in office said he would continue implementing projects in the interest of Sveti Nikole residents.

Vladev said his plans included building a shopping mall, a wastewater treatment plant, a public swimming pool and a nursing home in Sveti Nikole. mr/