English
VMRO-DPMNE President Hristijan Mickoski congratulated Stojancho Radicheski from the “Your Macedonia” coalition this evening on the number of votes he secured in the mayoral election in Brvenica. He stated that SDSM has been soundly defeated in this first round, as the VMRO candidate won about 3,000 votes, and SDSM, which invested significantly in the race and had its leader Filipce campaigning in Brvenica – won just 700 votes and ranked fourth – last – in the race. The race will be decided in two weeks, when the two best placed candidates from VMRO and DUI will face each other.
VMRO-DPMNE has taken a commanding lead, securing a massive victory in the first round of the mayoral election in the Municipality of Brvenica. Although the SDSM leadership had predicted a decisive victory in Brvenica just a few days ago, the party has instead been soundly defeated by the citizens—a significant message from the public to the SDSM leadership, Mickoski noted during a press conference. SDSM was hoping that a good showing in this election prompted by the death of the Mayor will help them support their claims that the party is on the upswing, while VMRO is trending down.
DUI candidate Arkin Jahij is second with about 2,500 votes, and he beat the VLEN candidate Jakup Huseini from VLEN who won about 1,500 votes. This reduces the potential rift in the VMRO-VLEN coalition, which existed during the earlier elections in Brvenica, where the two parties clashed over the mayoral seat. This time around, VMRO will have its bitter opponent DUI to fight, and it will be up to VLEN voters to decide whether they will side with their coalition partner, or will they support DUI along Albanian ethnic lines. Similarly, it remains to be seen whether SDSM voters will side with the VMRO candidate along Macedonian ethnic lines.
According to him, today’s vote confirms that citizens recognize and support the policies of VMRO-DPMNE. The people, he said, are choosing progress, unity, and a righteous struggle for the future. The government will continue to invest in the development of municipalities, guided by clear priorities and an even greater sense of responsibility, Mickoski added.