Skopje, 12 May 2024 (MIA) - Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova addressed Parliament on Sunday at a session inaugurating her as the sixth president of North Macedonia and the first woman to hold the post. In her speech she vowed to “carry out her duty responsibly, respect the Constitution and laws, and protect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Macedonia”. 

“I will respect this Parliament, I will forget the bad moments, I will remember only the good ones. I will be a president of both the left and the right side, of all citizens, I won’t divide them on the basis of ethnicity, religion, sex, or any other basis. I will attempt to justify these thousands of votes which aren’t only the best gift for my birthday, but also the greatest task and responsibility,” Siljanovska-Davkova said at her inauguration in Parliament.

Siljanovska-Davkova dedicated her speech to women, who, she said, are the reason she chose to run for president, "to inspire them that it is possible for a woman, too, to become a president of the country". 

She stressed that the main and basic criterion for the people around her will be expertise and competency. “The rule of law,” she said, “is what will make this country European, not the rule of the few, not the rule of men”. 

Siljanovska-Davkova called for unity and reminded that the country exists not only thanks to male komiti and partisans, but also thanks to female komiti such as Sirma Vojvoda and female partisans like Vera Ciriviri-Trena, Vera Jocikj and Ibe Palikukja. 

“Because we are able to care not only for ourselves, but above all for all others... Unfortunately, women are not very present in politics. I am happy that I will inspire other women. If I can be president, then so can you. The patriarchate is still alive in the Balkans, but strong women can solve issues differently, I firmly believe in that. I have seen many brave and smart women in this Parliament, but I was wondering why they weren’t present in the highest positions. But here, this happened too. I will pave the path. Here, on the right, on the left, and in the center, I see many smart, many dedicated women who I will carry in my mind and in my heart,” Siljanovska-Davkova said. 

The country’s new president said she couldn’t imagine receiving the votes of over 560.000 citizens and still finds it hard to believe, noting that the only person who was certain this would happen was Hristijan Mickoski, who, she said, assured her that “it will happen when harmony exists between the mathematics and emotions”. 

After her inauguration in Parliament, Siljanovska-Davkova will assume her post as the sixth president of the country at an official handover ceremony in the President’s Office with the highest state and military honors. Afterwards, she is expected to have a tête-à-tête meeting with outgoing President Stevo Pendarovski.   

Siljanovska-Davkova, who was backed by VMRO-DPMNE, beat President Stevo Pendarovski in the presidential run-off on May 8. According to the State Election Commission, she won 561.000 votes, while her opponent, Pendarovski, won 251.899 votes. 

Photo: MIA