Vlen to VMRO‑DPMNE: No party owns citizens’ votes after Brvenica

Vlen rejected accusations from governing VMRO‑DPMNE that the party acted as a “Trojan horse” for DUI during the early local elections in Brvenica, saying the vote reflected citizens’ free choice and democratic rules.

In a statement, Vlen argued that ballots belong to voters, not to political organizations, and called on all parties to respect the independence of citizens’ decisions after the second round produced a victory for DUI.

Vlen's defence and wider reactions

“No political party controls the votes, nor can any party claim ownership of them. The votes belong to citizens, who are free to decide to whom they entrust their support. This is a democratic principle that must be respected by everyone. In a democracy, the will of the citizens is and must remain of the greatest importance, above any other interest, moreover, in the context of local democracy, the will of the citizens is and should be non‑partisan,” Vlen said.

The party also assessed that the Brvenica elections exposed ongoing challenges in building a more inclusive and civic‑oriented society. Vlen singled out SDSM and Levica for criticism, accusing them of encouraging ethnically based voting and warning that such rhetoric deepens ethnic divisions and raises polarisation.

VMRO‑DPMNE had publicly accused Vlen of serving as a “Trojan horse” for DUI in Brvenica after the second round of the snap local vote, which was won by the DUI candidate, Arkin Jahiji.

Vlen’s response stresses that political competition must not be allowed to override voters’ autonomy, and the party urged all actors to prioritise democratic norms and cross‑community trust at the local level.

Photo: press material from the event