VMRO‑DPMNE defends Hristijan Mickoski and accuses SDSM leaders of illicit enrichment

VMRO‑DPMNE issued a sharp defense of its leader, Hristijan Mickoski, after the Social Democratic Union (SDSM) criticized his appearance and rhetoric. In a party statement, VMRO‑DPMNE accused former SDSM leader Zoran Zaev and current party figure Venko Filipche of amassing wealth by criminal means — including apartments and a building in Dubai, a golden visa, a multimillion-euro yacht moored in Paljuri in the Aegean Sea, shares in an Indian airline and companies registered in neighboring Bulgaria.

Party response and counter-accusations

VMRO‑DPMNE said SDSM cannot accept that it is possible to earn money honestly and that Mickoski’s earnings are public and transparent. The party highlighted Mickoski’s frequent public explanations of how he earned his income and noted that "for his way of working no one has ever said that it was dishonest, that the earnings were through third parties, companies abroad or by rigging tenders. On the contrary, we can only hear words of praise for a university professor, whom his own students have recognized as the best professor at his faculty."

The statement framed the allegations against Zaev and Filipche as evidence that those two "stole and blackened the state." VMRO‑DPMNE argued that, beyond official salaries as MPs, ministers or mayors, Zaev and Filipche had no other sources of income — a claim the party used to question how they acquired their alleged assets.

"They rigged tenders, took commissions, wrote off state reserves, and burdened the country so they could fill their pockets. That is where the money of these criminals comes from. Kocevski, Abazi, Ruskovska, Katsarska are only some of their infiltrated individuals in the judiciary who defend them as long as they can," the party said.

VMRO‑DPMNE also replied to SDSM’s renewed criticism over spending for the 35th Independence Day celebration. Mickoski had told reporters that zero denars from the state budget were spent on the events marking Independence Day — a claim SDSM called another lie. VMRO‑DPMNE responded by saying: "We know that this 'talog' is bothered that the David Guetta show cost zero denars. But it does not bother them that Haris Dzinovic's private party in Dubai cost hundreds of thousands of dollars."

Earlier, SDSM accused the prime minister and VMRO‑DPMNE leader of branding anyone who supports Europe, democracy, freedom of speech and a better standard of living as "talog," and said that in the 21st century power is being used with, as they put it, fascist methods reminiscent of the era of Vancho Mihailov and by copying the policies of Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. SDSM also called Mickoski and his allies "tender patriots" who seek luxury and enrichment at the expense of the people.

Photo: Архива