Marija Miteva condemns Petar Bogojeski’s remarks on "male oversight"

Marija Miteva, president of the Union of Women of VMRO-DPMNE, issued a sharp public condemnation of statements by Petar Bogojeski, leader of the Macedonian Concept party and an instructor at the Military Academy “General Mihailo Apostolski”, after his appearance in a televised debate. Miteva said Bogojeski’s remarks demean women’s dignity and autonomy and that they risk normalizing or relativizing violence in intimate relationships.

Reaction after a TV Alfa debate

In a Facebook post Miteva called his positions “demeaning, retrograde and dangerous” and said it is unacceptable to speak of women as people who need oversight. She warned that such views directly attack the values of a democratic society and demanded the strongest public condemnation.

As Miteva wrote on Facebook: "With disgust and deep disbelief I followed the statements of Petar Bogojeski about women and the alleged need for ‘male oversight’. These are demeaning, retrograde and dangerous beliefs that insult dignity and directly strike at the values of a democratic society. To speak about a woman as a person who needs oversight is unacceptable."

Miteva also flagged as most alarming the implicit relativization of violence in Bogojeski’s remarks. "That is dangerous and deserves the strictest public condemnation," she added, stressing that as president of the Union of Women — and as a woman — she rejects any normalization of violence and the undermining of women’s independence.

Bogojeski made the comments during a debate on TV Alfa where he discussed feminism, marital relations and the role of men toward women. He argued that feminism has led women to reject male oversight and said "the husband should have the role of overseeing the wife." He further suggested that a husband’s reaction to a wife’s infidelity "is not violence. It is a reaction to protect his dignity."

Miteva concluded by reaffirming the Union of Women’s platform "For One More Woman" as the opposite of the attitudes expressed by Bogojeski — advancing opportunities, respect and freedom for women — and urged careful consideration about how much public space should be given to views that erode human dignity.

Photo: press material from the event