SDSM: Mickoski’s independence video praises SDSM state-building, Gruevski excluded

The Social Democratic Union (SDSM) accused Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of effectively using a commemorative video for the 35th anniversary of independence to showcase achievements they say belong to SDSM's state-building record, and noted that former president Kiro Gligorov appears in the footage.

Party statement

In a written reaction SDSM said: "Hristijan Mickoski today published a video on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Macedonia's independence. And what did we see? A video that celebrates the state-building policy of SDSM. Kiro Gligorov is in the video. The country's greatest state achievements are in the video."

The party also pointed out what the clip does not show: "The only things missing from the video were entry into NATO, as well as the start of negotiations with the EU."

In a longer passage SDSM argued: "Everything that is positive and state-building in those 35 years is the work of SDSM. Not a single true state success in these three and a half decades bears VMRO's signature. That's why there is no place for Nikola Gruevski in the video. Those years of darkness, crime and flight are not for promotional spots. There is also no place for this current Government — because it has nothing to show. Mickoski wanted to boast about independence. But he actually published a promotion of everything that SDSM built. Macedonia has reason to be proud. And that pride, for the most part, bears the signature of SDSM."

Earlier on the same day Prime Minister Mickoski shared a short film that stitches together notable moments and personalities from the country's independence era; SDSM interprets the selection and emphasis as a political message rather than a neutral summary.

The video was released as official events marking 35 years of independence were set to begin in Ohrid, where organisers opened a musical caravan for the anniversary.

Photo: press material from the event