Violations of coronavirus restrictions displayed by top SDSM party officials, during the Stip mayoral elections, are a threat to public health, the opposition VMRO-DPMNE party said, noting that the infection of Deputy Prime Minister Ljupco Nikolovski has put the leadership of the country and many ordinary people, in danger. 

In an attempt to score PR points SDSM insisted on holding an unnecessary election in Stip which the opposition boycotted saying they are not worth having if it leads to new infections. During the campaign, and after the SDSM candidate Sasko Nikolov “won” running almost unopposed, SDSM officials such as Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, his lieutenant Nikolovski and party spokesman Kosta Kostadinov violated coronavirus restrictions to hold maskless press conferences, rallies, and a large party on the eve of the election during which they booked a brass band and opened a bar past the official closing time. Now Nikolovski is in isolation with what he said are mild Covid-19 symptoms.

Nikolovski was appointed to the Government ostensibly to fight corruption. He suspended his work to help his party colleague become Mayor, and in the course of this he openly violated the restrictions, displaying complete disregard for the law. He joined Zaev and Nikolov at a horo dance after the elections, and after that Zaev went to a kindergarten in Resen, and to a school in Pustec, bringing ministers Sahpaska and Carovska with him. After the “corona elections”, Mayor Sasko NIkolov visited the Parliament. And they all, with the exception of Nikolovski, continue to go around the country. This type of behavior needs to carry serious accountability, VMRO-DPMNE said in a press release.