site.btaOpposition Party in North Macedonia Congratulates Radev on PM Election

The opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has congratulated Rumen Radev on his election as Prime Minister of Bulgaria.

"We hope that the new Bulgarian Government will demonstrate a constructive and reasonable approach to North Macedonia for the purpose of building good-neighbour relations, without any threat to Macedonian national identity, language and culture," the opposition party's leader Venko Filipce posted on X. "[North] Macedonia is firmly resolved on a European future. The only way is the way to integration into the EU."

SDSM reiterated that the ruling VMRO-DPMNE "is deliberately blocking the country's European path and foments artificial conflicts with its neighbours in order to defend its corrupt system".

"We believe that through constructive dialogue, without breaching the red lines, by respecting our national identity and the European principles, we will be able to overcome all open issues and accelerate the European path of the entire region. Good-neighbour relations are the top priority for coexistence in the large European family. Let us work together for better future and a higher standard of living for our citizens with all EU Member States," Filipce wrote.

VMRO-DPMNE took exception to SDSM's reaction to the election of the new Bulgarian cabinet and accused Filipce of "courting Bulgaria and are sending messages of their readiness for a new national betrayal".

"SDSM agreed to everything that was put on the table [. . .] The Prespa Agreement [of 2018 with Greece, that resolved a decades-long name dispute between the two countries], the Good-neighbourliness Treaty with Bulgaria [Treaty of Friendship, Good-neighbourliness and Cooperation between the Republic of Bulgaria and the Republic of Macedonia, signed in Skopje on August 1, 2017] and the 'French Proposal' [made by the French EU presidency in 2022 which, without making a specific mention of a "Bulgarian minority", obliged the government of North Macedonia to protect the rights of all "minorities and communities" by preventing hate speech and discrimination and to respect the 2017 Friendship Treaty with Bulgaria] are glaring examples that SDSM was prepared to cross any boundary to the detriment of the Macedonian people and the State interests. Macedonian identity, national interests, and Macedonian statehood mean nothing to SDSM and Venko Filipce. SDSM with Venko Filipce are ready yet again to commit national betrayals, which is why their approval rating is falling and [SDSM] is turning into a marginalized party," the VMRO-DPMNE's reaction reads.