The so-called. French proposal, or the European negotiating framework, in its part on the condition for the inclusion of Bulgarians in the constitution of North Macedonia, the Prespa agreement with Greece, domestic political issues related to ideologies, nationalism and inter-ethnic relations were among the main topics of the third and last debate of the pre-election campaign for the presidential elections in North Macedonia between Gordana Siljanovska, nominated by VMRO-DPMMNE and Stevo Pendarovski, supported for a second presidential term by VMRO-DPMMNE.
The debate was broadcast on Channel 5, BTA reported.
Both presidential candidates reiterated their positions on the negotiating framework. According to Pendarovski, it is optimally possible and was achieved after Bulgaria's previous conditions related to history, which he called “unseen historical revisionism” and the language he said he was called to talk about to convince him to accept the wording “the official languages, according to the constitutions of the two countries”, was not accepted by the North Macedonian side.
„VMRO-DPMNE claim that they would not change the European negotiation framework, it would remain as it is. However, in return they would demand that Bulgaria fulfill the decisions of the Court (for human rights) in Strasbourg. When you show the lady that since 1957, when the EU was created, until today, a non-member country cannot impose conditions on an EU member state, which is the alphabet in all international organizations, and that solidarity between countries is a priority -members, and not to those who are not members of the EU, this lady just rolls her eyes and literally doesn't answer anything, Pendarovski said after the debate at the SDSM rally, and in the studio asked Siljanovska if there is support in the EU for her ideas to the condition for the inclusion of Bulgarians in the country's constitution should be changed.
Gordana Siljanovska repeated her opinion that after the new European Parliament is formed, a “different interpretation of the negotiation framework” will be sought. She stated again that “Bulgaria does not implement the decisions of the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, regarding the registration of associations of Macedonians in Bulgaria” and "the court should be dissolved if its sentences are not carried out”.
„When you ask them what we are going to do with our membership in NATO, which they (VMRO-DPMNE) themselves have included in their program as the greatest value and with the greatest contribution to the security of North Macedonia, they say that they will respect the Prespa treaty, but they will never say “Severna”. If a preschooler said that, you'd laugh. When an elderly person, a university professor, a candidate for the highest political post says it, you can only feel sorry for the lady”, Pendarovski stated at the closing rally of the SDSM, shortly after the debate.
In the Channel 5 studio, Gordana Siljanovska once again pointed out that the referendum that was held in North Macedonia to change the name was unsuccessful, that she has the right to a personal opinion, that she will not “take down the signs in front of the institutions”, but also categorically will not use the constitutional name of the country North Macedonia.
„I will not use “Severna”, we will see the consequences”, said Siljanovska in response to Pendarovski's remark that this would violate the Prespa treaty, thanks to which the country became a member of NATO.
The political rhetoric in the country in the final days of the campaign and comments that it could lead to an inter-ethnic crisis were also the subject of the debate.
„I do not expect an inter-ethnic crisis, regardless of who will be in power (after the elections), but it is indisputable that the main opposition political entity VMRO-DPMNE, which supports the lady, presents itself with a strong nationalist rhetoric and it is true that there nationalist provocations from the other side (the Albanian political bloc), which we would not like to see after thirty years of an independent state”, Pendarovski said.
Silyanovska responded that neither she nor the chairman of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristiyan Mitskoski, are nationalists, nor have they made nationalist statements.
To other speculation in the campaign that the legal turnout of over 40 percent might not be possible in the second round of the presidential election, both responded that they did not expect that to happen. Pendarovski said he has no intention of negotiating with any political party for support, that he is appealing to citizens and still believes he can win the vote on May 8. Siljanovska repeated her thesis that if in the first round the result of the voting was twice that of Pendarovski, in the second round she expects the difference to be three times greater.
The final rallies of some of the main political parties in the Republic of North Macedonia, which will enter the race for more deputies in the parliament, took place in the late hours of the last day of the election campaign in the country.
„On the eve we are at the final decision whether we will return (Northern) Macedonia to the people or it will remain conquered. The most recurring feeling among people is that there is no system, no country. Because an apparatus was created led by DSI and supported by SDSM, which plunged (Northern) Macedonia into crime and corruption,” said the chairman of VMRO-DPMNE Hristiyan Mitskoski at the pre-election rally in Prilep.
In front of the many sympathizers, Mickoski pointed out that the previous government of the country, "which claims to be composed of European-minded politicians" has not made it possible for North Macedonia to move towards the EU.
„They are ashamed of the European Union when they see Artan (Grubi) and Buyar (Osmani) defending them. While they talk about Europe, with harmful decisions and treaties they disgraced every Macedonian national feeling. They treat (Northern) Macedonia, our nation and our identity as some kind of hybrid. That we have no memories, that we have no monuments and heroes. A tree without roots. And it's only because they don't want to look around," said Mickoski, who called for mobilization at the May 8 vote.
„Let us all take a step forward together, new ASNOM, fourth Ilinden. In these 30 years, especially in these painful seven years, we have seen strange things. On May 8, let's repeat the lesson from April 24. The people legitimize and delegitimize. Let's lay the foundations of a proud (Northern) Macedonia. On May 9, a new democratic history will begin and don't let those who call for a boycott take away your right to vote," urged the presidential candidate nominated by VMRO-DPMNE Gordana Siljanovska.
„We received a penalty for the mistakes we made. We are fully aware of this and have accepted the message with dignity and respect. You saw for yourself, we accepted the mistakes, we learned a lesson. And that's why I want to tell you loud and clear: if we get the trust of the citizens, this will not happen again. This is my promise to you," SDSM chairman Dimitar Kovachevski said at the party's closing rally in Skopje.
„To cement the future of (Northern) Macedonia on the highway that leads to Europe and the developed world, let us show those who imagine (Northern) Macedonia only as their own, private state that they will not succeed. They will not succeed," urged the candidate for a second presidential term, supported by SDSM Stevo Pendarovski.
After the coalition of Albanian opposition parties in the country won the race with the DSI-led coalition and held their final rally in the square in Tetovo, the current mayor of the city and chairman of BESA, Bilal Kasami, said from the podium that “on May 8 the government will be punished for the mismanagement of the state”.
„To punish the power that rules badly is our duty. That is why I want to send a message to all the people in the administration and those who have served the Albanians honestly, on May 8, go out and vote for the change that is worth it. Do not be afraid of the threats of the DSI police, their ministers and officials, because on May 9th they will answer for all these threats, they will also answer for their anti-civil and illegal actions. With determination, we made the change in the municipalities, and on May 8 we will make it at the central level as well. The future belongs to the "Deserve it" coalition. The “Deserve” coalition it will inevitably be in the government, as a guarantor of the rights and progress of the Albanians,” Kasami said, the media in the country inform.
„I promise publicly that when we form a government soon, we will not sit in the armchairs, but we will work for you, who opened the doors for us when we came without knocking. I had an offer from (DSI chairman) Ali Ahmeti, but I turned it down, I chose to be with you and I'm proud to have made that choice," the media quoted Albanian opposition presidential candidate Arben Taravari, who lost the race with Bujar Osmani, as saying. the first round of the presidential elections.
„The Left calls on all citizens to come out en masse and deliver the last blow to the exhausted ruling clique! Again, the ASNOM flag is flying all over (Northern) Macedonia. We will fight tirelessly in Parliament and every avenue, every street will be colored red, full of you, the working people, on whose shoulders rests the weight of the historic task. Left is here, with you and for you - (Northern) Macedonia will be free and we will build a new world - brotherly! “, says the message of Left, which had two deputies in the previous parliament of the country, but expects to be able to form a parliamentary group in these elections.
"Participation in the government yes, but only under conditions that ZNAM sets - a government without DSI, protection of national interests, identity, language, culture and heritage during all stages of the European integration process" is the message of Maxim Dimitrievski on the last day of the campaign for the presidential and parliamentary elections, the media in North Macedonia reports.
Although the ZNAM movement has been commented on as a possible coalition partner of VMRO-DPMNE in forming the country's next government, Dimitrievski claims that he is not negotiating with either SDSM or VMRO DPMNE and calls on citizens for mass support on May 8 for the candidate-deputy lists of ZNAM, because they are "the true representatives of the social democratic movement and idea".
The second round of the presidential and parliamentary elections of North Macedonia will be held on May 8.