The comment by SDSM – DUI presidential candidate Stevo Pendarovski that he is being followed by foreign intelligence services tied to the opposition in Macedonia made many in the country scratch their heads.

As a second time running presidential nominee, Pendarovski is recognizable and was photographed and shared online while driving a car, which was significantly more expensive than the modest Yugo he claimed to use. Pendarovski turned the incident into a security matter, while Twitter and Facebook users turned his paranoia into a running joke.

Some users shared the pictures of Rowan Atkinson’s Mr Bean/Johnny English following Pendarovski, while others photoshopped him pushing a Yugo. “Stevo’s shadow got arrested – it was following him”, one quipped.

Even Prime Minister Zoran Zaev said that his presidential candidate, who built his career in the police and as presidential security adviser, is safe and sound.