SDSM: Who will be held responsible for the botched flag display?
SDSM demands full disclosure of organisers, costs and responsibility after the flag display at the 35th independence celebration.
SDSM accused the Government of North Macedonia, led by Hristijan Mickoski, of humiliating the state and citizens after a controversial depiction of the national flag during the official ceremony marking 35 years of independence.
Party secretary demands answers and accountability
At a press conference, the party's secretary for international cooperation, Andrej Zhernovski, said the Government sought to defend the display by calling it an artistic installation instead of explaining who was responsible, how much it cost and offering an apology.
"Instead of saying who is responsible, explaining how much this costs and, most importantly, apologizing to the citizens, the Government tried to justify the case by saying it was an artistic installation," Zhernovski said.
He added that the executive has repeatedly shifted blame onto political opponents and the public whenever mistakes or poor results occur. "When they make a mistake, SDSM is to blame, the people are to blame. When they don't have results, again someone else is to blame," Zhernovski stressed.
Zhernovski also criticised the way the Government presented the history of North Macedonia's independence during the commemoration, saying important milestones were omitted — including membership in NATO and the United Nations, and the country's candidate status for European Union accession. He accused VMRO-DPMNE of downplaying the country's key state achievements.
He demanded that the Government publish full details of the event's organisation and determine responsibility. Zhernovski posed specific questions: which company produced the disputed flag, who was responsible for the visual performance, how much the entire celebration cost and who will bear responsibility for the lapse. He also referred to the law on the use of the coat of arms, flag and anthem, noting that improper use of state symbols carries misdemeanor sanctions.
"We demand that the Government break its silence and finally come forward before the citizens," he urged.
Photo: СДСМ
