Skopje, 3 April 2025 (MIA) — SDSM president Venko Filipche met Thursday with Prime Minister and VMRO-DPMNE leader Hristijan Mickoski and told the press afterward they had agreed to form workgroups that would focus on necessary reforms in the judiciary, in the energy sector and in publich health care system. 

"The prime minister and I had a good and truly constructive meeting," Filipche said, adding that Mickoski had "clearly received the citizens' message and request for working together in areas important for improving quality of life."

The SDSM leader said ways of working together were yet to be decided, but there was willingness on both sides to cooperate as part of expert workgroups.

"I will nominate several experts from the judiciary and energy sector to take part in developing laws that are part of the reform agenda," Filipche said.

He said all parties would be invited to participate in the workgroups.

"This is for the good of the country," he said.

They also talked about the country's European integration process and the required constitutional amendments. Unfortunately, according to the opposition leader, they had different positions about these matters.

"I understand the prime minister's positions. We need to discuss this some more," Filipche said.

The SDSM president reiterated this was not "an ethnic meeting." He said a meeting between all party leaders should be scheduled next.

"Citizens should be aware that someone is listening to their demands," he said, adding that this was the first meeting of its kind.

In response to a reporter's question on the Covid-19 modular hospital fire case, he said he did not feel responsible for it and he had no problem with the case being reopened. mr/