Skopje, 20 October 2025 (MIA) – SDSM leader Venko Filipche should resign after the local elections in which DUI also suffered a crushing defeat, VMRO-DPMNE vice president Aleksandar Nikoloski said Monday.

“Macedonia is painted in red, VMRO-DPMNE won a landslide victory. We expect yet another victory in the second round,” Nikoloski told a party news conference.

He said he is confident Skopje will make the right choice and the VMRO-DPMNE candidate, Orce Gjorgjievski will be the next mayor.

“Orce is in the lead 1:3,” stressed Nikoloski.

Regarding the rival in the race for Skopje mayor, Levica’s Amar Mecinovikj, he said: “We are partners with the United States and NATO and it is one of the reasons we are progressing.”

Nikoloski underscored VMRO-DPMNE’s “convincing victory” in SDSM’s bastion, Strumica, adding that Filipche should make the “moral act” of resigning.

In the second round, Nikoloski said he believes the voters won’t elect Stevcho Jakimovski, who will face off against VMRO-DPMNE’s Sotir Lukrovski.

“SDSM and DUI in the coming period will be dealing with themselves,” concluded Nikoloski.

Photo: MIA