Skopje, 23 August 2025 (MIA) – We’ve shown in the past four years that we are working for all the people and that the program we promised is largely implemented. We’ve gotten the municipalities back on the right track, the path of changes, investments, of building parks, streets, kindergartens, schools. Responsibly with dedication, with hard work without promising any miracles but with a lot of fervour to build a better municipality and to secure a better future, said Prime Minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski in a speech opening the fair of mayors, titled “Four Years Working for You”.

The fair, Mickoski said, is an answer to the question what the mayors of the VMRO-DPMNE-led coalition have done in the past four years, of which “for three years they were the absolute opposition to the central government” prompting the mayors to solve problems on their own.

“Four years later, I can say you have kept your word. Four years later, the most valuable thing is that you weren’t involved in a scandal, a criminal case or anything else that might have brought shame upon yourself, the party, your families, and most importantly, upon the citizens. I’m saying this because past practices and experiences reveal municipalities have had their reputation stained by a myriad of criminal deals,” he noted. 

In the past four years, according to him, streets and roads more than 770 kilometers long, estimated at EUR 100 million, were built, 46,840 meters in new water supply networks and 91,000 meters in sewages were also built and seven indoor farmers’ markets were built or are nearing completion, 12 waste water treatment stations were built or are nearing completion, etc. 

“As regards education, over 400 schools have been reconstructed and modernized. More than 70 kindergartens have been reconstructed and modernized and about ten kindergartens have been built for which over one billion denars were invested. A total of 274 sport fields or children’s recreational grounds have been completed or are near completion,” Mickoski announced.

The 500 million euros in capital projects for local development of the municipalities shows the support of the central government given to the municipalities.

“In just one year after taking over the central government, 500 million euros were made available and secured for local development through two public calls. In the last second call, there were 887 from 80 municipalities. At this moment alone, projects are being implemented in municipalities for over 100 million euros provided by the government. And that support will continue. And I am aware of all the shortcomings and great needs of citizens. But our work is for every single citizen and I am truly proud of what has been achieved and the changes we are making together,” stressed Mickoski.

The people who we don’t support now are not part of our coalition and I’m aware that we made a mistake, he added. “The lesson is learned.”

“I’m sorry for investing my personal credibility in them and for endorsing them to become mayors. They not only betrayed our trust, they also betrayed the values protected by all the mayors in the past four years with hard work. One of these people will be at the helm of the City of Skopje for another month and a half. Every experience is valuable to learn not to make the same mistake again. It’s important that now we have candidates that will definitely contribute to the development of local self-government,” the VMRO-DPMNE leader said stressing that he is confident his party will win the local elections this year. 

Every victory, Mickoski added, has to be deserved with hard work and humbleness. “Mayors have to be the first among equals, servants of people, not their master.”

“Mayors have to respect the law and live by example, because trust is not earned with words, you earn it with deed,” he said. 

No office is eternal and guaranteed, Mickoski said announcing a government reshuffle after the October elections.

“It wouldn’t mean that those who will be replaced have had poor performance, it means that the government needs more capacity to implement the changes we’re making. Reshuffling of the government will secure an enhanced tempo and more joint successes that will prove we are on the right path and the citizens have made the right choice,” stressed Mickoski. 

The coming elections, said the prime minister, won’t open the door for DUI to join the government. “Macedonia will say No to DUI and SDSM.”

“It’s becoming more and more evident that DUI and SDS have a secret plan against the people, not for the people. It is a scenario conceived and coordinated by the two parties – a scenario of chaos, of political fog and of manipulation. SDS and DUI’s deep state – their people in the judiciary, the election commission and the institutions – have joined forced in a coalition. A coalition that aims to prevent the defeat they’ll suffer from VMRO-DPMNE in the local elections,” pledged Mickoski. 

VMRO-DPMNE, he added, is a guarantee that the people will take the future in their own hands, restore justice and order and that it will bury deep the deep state that has been suffocating Macedonia for 30 years.

The political fair, Mickoski said, is a novelty introduced in the political spectrum. He called on the citizens to put forward proposals starting Monday when work starts to create the election program.

The event features several panels with mayors, including the mayors from the Skopje region, the eastern region, the south-western region, the south-eastern region, and the regions of Vardar and Pelagonija. 

Every municipality will be represented at a promotional stand allowing attendees to learn more about the achievements of the mayors. 

Photo: VMRO-DPMNE