The SDSM birthday cake was cut by its leader Venko Filipce, but the attention was drawn to former leader Zoran Zaev. The Social Democratic League of Macedonia celebrated its 35th anniversary last night at its headquarters in Skopje. The appearance of the former party leader and former prime minister was greeted by members with applause, hugs and requests for photos, while there were comments and reactions in the media and social networks.
In addition to Zaev, former senior party and state officials, as well as other public figures from the media, were also present at the celebration. In his speech to the attendees, Chairman Filipçe reviewed the journey of SDSM over three and a half decades, emphasizing the role of SDSM in building state positions both in times of power and opposition. In addition to the promises from the SDSM program in all areas, Filipçe sent harsh criticism against political opponents, namely VMRO-DPMNE, describing them as anti-European and working to the detriment of state interests.
"I urge you, the time of lies and false patriotism and raw nationalism to the detriment of interethnic relations and the highest national interests is over. We return power to the hands of the citizens, for that tonight on the 35th anniversary of SDSM we do not return and are not remembered only for our history, but also for our mass, in the sentence of Kiro Gligorov, Macedonia is all we have", said Venko Filipçe, Chairman of SDSM.
Meanwhile, VMRO-DPMNE, instead of sending a congratulatory telegram, published a statement, accusing SDSM of still being under the "claws" of Zaev, who according to them, through the party's secretary general, has made an agreement with the Serbian opposition to build a common front.
"Zaev has not abstained from SDSM and politics for 5 minutes, not for 5 years. Last night, on the party's birthday, he came to show that he is still the supreme leader of SDSM and that everyone works according to his instructions... As long as Zaev is with SDSM, they have no future. Citizens do not forget," say VMRO-DPMNE.
The 35th anniversary finds SDSM in a difficult political situation, after heavy losses in the last parliamentary, presidential elections in 2024 and local elections in 2025. For this very reason, there were voices within the party demanding accountability. Among them was Petre Shilegov, against whom a procedure for expulsion from the party was initiated on the accusation that he had prepared a platform and plan to weaken the party at a time when VMRO is experiencing a decline in credibility, while SDSM is experiencing growth. However, Shilegov counter-accused that Filipce works for VMRO, in order to avoid investigations into possible criminal offenses.
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