Skopje, 16 October 2025 (MIA) – VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski urged for a large turnout at Sunday’s local elections during a rally in Gazi Baba on Thursday evening, where he called on the citizens to back Boban Stefanovski’s reelection as Gazi Baba Mayor, as well as Orce Gjorgjievski’s election as Skopje Mayor.

“The key to the elections is turnout. Go out and vote, because only then will your vote count. Our victory must be historically large to send a message that we are all united around one goal, and that goal is called Macedonia. Only then will your vote have real value,” Mickoski.

Mickoski said the upcoming elections are not ordinary elections, but a choice between the past and the future.

“I know there are many people who sincerely want change, who want European local self-governance in Macedonia, but who may be hesitant. I want to sincerely tell them, in Skopje and across the country, we must not allow the votes to be split again. We must not allow the vote for change to end up with those who destroyed Macedonia, with parties that lack the strength to win, who will take a small percentage only to later sell out, that vote becomes a servile bridge through which SDSM and DUI will try to return to power. These are not ordinary elections, this is a choice between the past and the future, between collapse and renewal. Don’t split your vote, don’t let your effort and hope be misused again. This time, Skopje must choose properly, firmly, and without calculations, for a Macedonia that moves forward, not backward,” Mickoski said.

The VMRO-DPMNE leader said “the tricks and deceptions” of their political opponents must be defeated at these elections, adding that the opposition has not offered any program, ideas, or projects – only empty rhetoric.

“The absence of a program shows that they, in fact, have no serious intention to move forward, only empty rhetoric for new political deceptions and tricks. I am in politics to leave a mark and create values, the others are in politics to fill their pockets and for personal privileges. They entered politics as beggars and came out as millionaires,” Mickoski said.

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE