Bytyqi: I chose the path of dialogue to change the government — the goal is bigger than replacing someone in office

In a statement for TV Koha, published by the Libertas portal, Fatmir Bytyqi spoke about current developments inside North Macedonia’s Social Democratic Union (SDSM) and the need for differing views to be confronted at a joint table.

“Let us all gather together. Even though we think differently, we all have one goal — how to defeat VMRO-DPMNE and the current government, which is in fact driving Macedonia toward the abyss,” he said in the statement, adding that this is the main goal of both sides, and perhaps of even more factions within the party.

Bytyqi admits he is known as one of the most critical voices, both inside and outside the party, but stresses he has chosen the path of dialogue: “The joint table within the party bodies is the place where everything must be said.”

According to him, if the battle and the battle of ideas have as their sole goal replacing someone in office so that someone else comes in, then the goal has not been achieved. “The goal is much bigger,” Bytyqi stresses, adding that, yes, the position of the current leader can also be discussed, but one must look at what alternatives are on offer.

For Bytyqi, the most important thing is to discuss the party’s concept and its big goals first, and then each office individually, starting with the leader. He calls it wrong to think that removing one person and bringing in another is enough to solve the problems — the challenge, he says, is much broader than replacing an individual.