Some SDSM supporters tried to put a brave face on the unprecedented purge of dozens of party officials, including the six deputy party leaders, and a number of people close to Radmila Sekerinska.

According to journalist and outspoken SDSM supporter Saso Ordanoski, the purge was accepted by those being removed and it will not cause divisions in the party. Some of the removed officials, like Frosina Remenski who lost her seat as party Vice-President, “the decisions were made without vanity, as it should with people who have integrity and vision” and she expressed gratitude to Zoran Zaev and Sekerinska for the trust they had in her.

Other dismissed officials kept quiet about their purge, as calls multiplied to have them removed from their state offices as well. This includes people like Interior Minister Oliver Spasovski, Public Administration Minister Damjan Mancevski and Skopje Mayor Petre Silegov, who were also sacked from their party function, like Remenski was.

If they are not worthy to hold a party office, how can they keep their positions in the Government?, asked Ivor Mickovski, a former SDSM official and now a frequent critic of the party.

Others were doubtful that Zaev will be able to turn things around simply by entertaining the public with a few dismissals.

There is no respect for the rule of law, corruption is running wild, as is nepotism, political bargains are being made in violation of the laws, the public administration is overburdened, no reform capacity, failure to deal with the Skopje 2014 project, the polluted air, the inefficient public services, the poor quality of education…, wrote former SDSM official Sofija Kunovska, listing the reasons why the party lost 2/5 of its support in a year and a half.

If yesterday’s purge was mostly symbolic, Zaev is now expected to begin removing Government ministers, a move which can have even more serious ramifications for the party unity.