SDSM: Mickoski is unhappy because von der Leyen took away his thesis that the Macedonian identity is at risk

The Macedonian opposition party SDSM this morning accused Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of using the issue of European integration and that of the Macedonian identity for political purposes, after he declared that he was not satisfied with the messages of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen regarding the constitutional changes, as the Fokus.mk portal reports this morning.

According to SDSM’s reaction, Mickoski described the meeting with von der Leyen as key, but expressed dissatisfaction with her message that changing the Constitution remains a condition for continuing the European process. “Von der Leyen said clearly: the change of the Constitution is on the table. And she stressed: Europe welcomes you with your identity and with your language. It is the very same sentence that Mickoski used to sell as treason,” the opposition party’s reaction says.

SDSM recalls VMRO-DPMNE’s earlier positions on the Prespa Agreement, the state’s name and the European process, assessing that the government’s positions have changed after coming to power. According to the party, von der Leyen’s message that the Macedonian identity and language are welcome in the EU refutes the thesis that they are endangered by continuing European integration.

“He is unhappy because they took his lie away, not because anyone is touching the Macedonian identity,” the reaction says, adding that the next step remains unblocking the European process, opening the “Fundamentals” chapter and implementing reforms, especially in the rule of law, the judiciary, the prosecution and the fight against corruption.