SDSM leader Venko Filipche said Thursday that he has no intention of stepping down as party president. At a press conference, Filipche argued that current criticism against him and his party come from certain people that collude with the parties in power and intend to weaken the opposition.
“I believe in what I do. I want this society to heal, be free of corruption, implement reforms, and join the EU. That is my strategic goal. However, the opposition struggles will intensify, because the country is on the brink of economic collapse and the current government is leading it toward isolation. SDSM remains united, with a synchronized parliamentary group, and that internal consolidation in local branches is ongoing”, he said.
Filipche’s speech is reaction to criticism addressed by SDSM members Jovan Despotovski and Petre Shilegov. From VMRO-DPMNE they reacted, saying that Filipche is just playing a victim.
“Filipche is harmful to the state and its citizens. His constant complaints and attempts to play the victim only reveal panic and a lack of real policies. The truth is simple: the problem of SDSM lies in corruption, crime, and dishonest politics led by Filipche and his mentor Zoran Zaev”, they stated from VMRO-DPMNE.