Skopje, 27 October 2025 (MIA) – Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Monday his party has been focused on the second round of the local elections, this coming Sunday, when it is expected VMRO-DPMNE to cement its victory with some 60 mayors and the City of Skopje. He also mentioned that the ruling party will hold a congress in December. 

“We’re focused on the second round of the local elections. I expect VMRO-DPMNE and the coalition to win in all the municipalities where its candidates are running for mayors in the second round. We already won in the councils of 58 municipalities and 33 mayors were already elected. I think 26 remain to be elected in the second round. We will complete this process, including the City of Skopje and the Council – 60 municipalities plus the capital. The party congress will be in December,” Mickoski said speaking to reporters.

When asked, he confirmed he had met with one of Vlen’s leaders, Bilal Kasami, who is running for mayor of Tetovo, to align statements ahead of the second round of the local elections.

“It’s true, I’ve met with Bilal Kasami. We talked. I believe he has started to send real statements that befit a mayor of a multi-ethnic Tetovo,” responded Mickoski.

Asked for a comment on SDSM leader Venko Filipche’s criticism calling the government’s work “catastrophic”, Mickoski said it is a normal thing for an opposition leader to criticize the government.

“Venko Filipche is the leader of what is still the largest opposition party in Macedonia. It’s a normal think to criticize the government thinking he will win the support of his party’s voters. He is criticizing the government’s work in the past 1,5 years, but he never criticizes himself as leader of SDSM during the same period. If he says the time is too short for his work to be assessed, then how he finds it suitable to assess the government for the same period of time it has been in office. The remarks are contradictory, I don’t think it’s the right message SDSM should be sending,” stated Mickoski. 

Photo: MIA