“The census is essential, the only thing we as a party do not agree on is to postpone it from the health point of view,” said Marjan Siljanoski, councilor from VMRO-DPMNE, at the CIVIL panel discussion “Census: Statistics, not politics” in the municipality of Gostivar .
“In the wake of a pandemic, the numbers are growing every day and no census should be held during this period. There are many countries that have postponed the census precisely for health reasons. To prolong the census in autumn or spring. Many citizens agree with us seeing the support we receive every day.
We are not in favor of boycotting the census, because we need a census. The debate on the census law was to involve several political parties. The government rejected 40 amendments from VMRO-DPMNE. I agree that the census is a mathematical operation – not a political one.
For several days, signatures were collected in Gostivar, in several actions for the census to be held at the appropriate time.
The census is a different operation from the elections. Enumerators go to people’s homes, unlike elections. “There would be more physical contact now,” Sijlanovski said.