PES President, MEPs to Attend Macedonian Opposition Protest

Former Bulgarian Prime Minister and leader of Party of European Socialists (PES) Sergei Stanishev. Photo: BGNES

The President of the Party of European Socialists (PES) Sergei Stanishev will attend the large anti-government protest organised by the Macedonian opposition, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday.

Stanishev sent a letter to the leaders from the European socialist family, saying that he is to join the civil protest in Skopje together with MEPs Knut Fleckenstein and Richard Howitt.

A warm-up protest procession took place in Skopje on Friday and a large international presence is expected on Sunday.

The opposition SDSM leader Zoran Zaev revealed on Friday the latest in a series of controversial wiretapped conversations, which according to him prove the malpractices of the government.

In his letter, Stanishev noted that PES was deeply concerned about the growing tension in Macedonia.

The PES leader assured that his party has always supported the efforts of the country to join the EU and NATO and it championed the rule of law, freedom of media and independence of the judiciary.

He reminded that the party had expressed concerns about the continuing political crisis and accused the government of not having taken any measures to address the accusations of SDSM, which is associate member of PES.

According to him, the continuing inactivity was putting under serious doubt the commitment of the government to democratic principles and values.

At the annual conference of PES dedicated to the Western Balkans, which took place in Sofia on Monday, the leaders and representatives of Socialist Democratic parties in the EU and the region issued a declaration.

The declaration expressed deep regret of the events in Kumanovo, called on the government to take all necessary measures to avoid another bloodshed and champion national unity, as PES reaffirmed its belief that the future of Macedonia was in the EU.

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