VMRO-DPMNE President Hristijan Mickoski addressed the Zagreb congress of the European People’s Party (EPP) saying that the ruling SDSM party is abusing the levers of power to assault the opposition. Mickoski said that, following the April 2020 elections, a new VMRO-DPMNE led Government will set a pro-European course and will rely on EPP’s help to reform Macedonia.

Our political opponents are battling us in the political arena with every tool at their disposal, excluding principles and values. I believe that this is one of the most serious political challenges our political family, the EPP, is facing. We are strong when it comes to sound economic and social policies, we are strong when it comes to keeping our word. But sadly, this is not how our opponents see conventional political action. For the past three years our nation has been led by a social-democratic Prime Minister whose Government has been synonymous with widespread corruption. The day to day activities of this Government include disregard for the rule of law and overall politization of our society, as well as incapacity to create economic and social change for the 21 century. Yet they brag on a daily basis how transparent they are. I agree, I haven’t seen a more transparently corrupt Government anywhere in the world, they don’t deny the corruption but rather hope they will get a day extra in their mandate to continue it, Mickoski said in his remarks in Zagreb, where he and the VMRO-DPMNE delegation also had a series of meetings with European leaders from the conservative political family.

Mickoski said that despite all the pressures and the abuses of the Zaev regime, VMRO-DPMNE will win the coming April 2020 elections and will turn Macedonia toward Europe.

We aim to form a stable and EU oriented Government which will achieve this. The new, VMRO-DPMNE led Government will oblige itself to create absolute reforms, which will allow functional justice, to bring high EU related criteria and above all to change the criteria for what it means to be a politician in the Macedonian society. As Macedonians, we belong to the European family because we share European values. With the support of our EPP family we will stop the exodus of our most brilliant youngsters, we will tackle the extreme levels of pollution, lower taxes, stimulate the economy and spur entrepreneurship. We must Europeanize our society, Mickoski said before adding that “Macedonia belongs in the European Union” and calling for help to spread this message.

– Our current social-democratic Government doesn’t deserve positive impetus from European capitals and Brussels, but our citizens do, Mickoski said.