Filipche calls government 'complete idiot'; VMRO-DPMNE accuses him of hate speech

Rhetoric between North Macedonia's two largest parties has sharply escalated amid uncertainty over the country's EU prospects and while officials await a message from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

SDSM president Venko Filipche accused the government led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of steering the country into isolation and used the word "complete idiot" when criticizing recent public remarks. He warned that the government's approach could leave North Macedonia in the European queue for many more years.

Filipche said: "He would defend the name, the language, the culture, the identity. But everything is preserved in international agreements! They acknowledge that. And now he says some nonsense that Iceland did not want the European Union. But Iceland is part of the single market. Can a person be such a complete idiot, to isolate us completely?! Let him think carefully, if needed let him not sleep at night. What will he tell von der Leyen tomorrow? — Not to play with the country's future, because future generations may judge him."

VMRO-DPMNE hits back

The ruling party's parliamentary group responded sharply, accusing Filipche of hate speech, sowing political panic and exerting pressure. VMRO-DPMNE officials also questioned whether Filipche's public performance reflected commitments he has taken on behind the scenes.

Nikola Micevski, coordinator of VMRO-DPMNE's parliamentary group, said: "This is hate speech and the speech of a man who is clearly in a serious crisis and a complicated condition. Filipche manifests strong fear and gives the impression that he is pressured by internal divisions and pressures. This is the speech of a blackmailed man. This is not the vocabulary befitting a doctor and a person who is part of the academic community. He wants to test whether the people think like him and agree with his positions on accepting the Bulgarian ultimatum. Let him call for elections, then the people will answer his question."

VMRO-DPMNE added that at this stage the issue is not whether they will demand an apology, and they did not disclose whether they will request disciplinary action under the parliamentary ethical code. The exchange underscores how public insults and accusations are shaping the domestic debate while North Macedonia's European future remains unsettled.

Photo: press material from the event