SDSM Vice-President Kaja Sukova reiterated her party’s stand that a leaders’ meeting should be held between all heads of parties represented in Parliament.
“Even though SDSM’s policies are currently focused on consolidating the party, we still build policies of coexistence, as has been the case so far. Division policies bring short political benefit, but they cause long-term damage to citizens in the country”, she told Telma on Monday.
On the other hand, VMRO-DPMNE believes that there is no reason for a leaders meeting “over problems being created” by SDSM and DUI themselves.
“If SDS[M] think that they will make [Venko] Filipce a leader and make themselves a factor, they’re lying to themselves. Let them find some other way to build Filipce’s legitimacy”, MP Mile Lefkov stressed at a press-conference the following day, ironically adding that for starters, Filipce should leave the “pocket and hugs” of former party leader and ex-PM Zaev.
The Government, too, voiced a stand on the matter as well.
“The Government doesn’t see the objectivity of asking for a leaders’ meeting through media. However, let them send the request as it needs to be sent and we will think about it and decide”, Spokesperson Marija Miteva said, adding nonetheless that the cabinet worked only in the interest of citizens, not to fulfil politicians’ wishes.
In response, SDSM said it was shocking that the Government didn’t consider that issues concerning the country’s security, peace, and future didn’t merit a leaders’ meeting, especially when there were, as it pointed out, new armed incidents on the streets and growing tensions related to interethnic relations, on a daily basis.