SDSM today accused the former mayor of Skopje, Petre Shilegov, and the former director of TIRZ, Jovan Despotovski, of working for VMRO-DPMNE as party members, and even of being coordinated with the ruling party.
"VMRO, Shilegov, Despotovski, all use the same rhetoric, the same techniques from the kitchens and spread their messages through the same pro-government portals," say SDSM, stating that the coordination between them was clear.
"VMRO attacks SDSM for the leadership meeting. Shilegov comes out and attacks SDSM for the leadership meeting, even using 'isolated party', that is, with the same rhetoric as Mickoski."
Depostovski also attacks SDSM for 'non-participation in the meeting of the leaders of the largest parties'.
VMRO attacks SDSM for demanding legal protection of data from the 'Safe City' system. Despotovski today on the same topic attacks SDSM for being stubborn about 'key legal projects of importance for the security of citizens'.
Shilegov attacks SDSM in a television show about how the decision was made not to support the legal solution on the same topic.
"Despotovski and Shilegov do not have a single critical word directed at Mickoski and VMRO, their criminal tenders, the isolation of the country, nor any government policy," say SDSM.
In last night's appearance on Telma's "Top Topic" show, Petre Shilegov demanded the resignation of the current leadership of SDSM because of the disastrous results in its work. Shilegov accused SDSM leader Venko Filipche of leading the party towards extinction.
"To reduce the party's support to just a hundred thousand votes and only 15 MPs, to become the fifth party in Skopje, the third in Macedonia, what is that if not a catastrophe," said Shilegov.
"There will be certain demands not only from my side, but from a serious group in the party, including current MPs, who also have no communication with the leadership. When some of the MPs leave the party, maybe half of the parliamentary group, when part of the municipal leadership closes its doors to you, then you will realize that you have to leave office," said Shilegov.
"I am convinced that with VMRO-DPMNE like this, if we consolidate in two months, we can defeat it in the next elections. It is devastating to have a majority opposition mood, and as an opposition party, SDSM has to fight with DUI and Levica, for the second and third opposition parties, and not be the leader of the opposition. If there is a rapid change in the leadership and policy creation of SDSM, I guarantee you that in the next special elections, SDSM will defeat such an incompetent VMRO-DPMNE," emphasized Petre Shilegov.
He responded to attacks from SDSM that he "works for VMRO-DPMNE" or that he "has become a scoundrel", assessing that these are attempts at personal discredit and disqualification.
Jovan Despotovski, in today's reaction to the media, accuses the SDSM leadership of using lies, fabrications and manipulations.
"The only one responsible for the dissatisfaction among SDSM members is the current party leadership. I do not consider, and at least I do not feel personally responsible for the fact that former and current party officials are already publicly commenting on the situation in SDSM and the policies and decisions of the current party leadership."
No one other than the current leadership is responsible for the exclusion of the party from key processes in the country. From not participating in the meeting of the leaders of the largest parties, which is only distancing oneself from one's own country and citizens. From stubbornness with key legal projects of importance for the security of citizens.
"What is happening has long since crossed every boundary of an intra-party debate. This is a matter of conscious defamation and political persecution, which damages not only my name and integrity, but also the reputation of the party. If there is no immediate public apology and withdrawal of all false and offensive allegations in the series of statements, I will be forced to take legal steps for defamation and personal, and then for continuous damage to the reputation of SDSM," said Despotovski.
