XHABIR DERALLA

The politicians and party bots of the Macedonian nationalist right-wing have been attacking Minister of Defense Slavjanka Petrovska on all grounds from the very first day. The attack was noticeable in its rudeness and vulgarity, both on a political and personal basis, including also on a gender basis. In the first “welcoming” wave of the attack, there was no special content, and the least some form of argumentative criticism.

First they attack

The first wave of hatred supported by disgusting posts on the social networks (Facebook and Twitter) had still not passed when the pace of hatred and discrediting intensified even more. Minister Petrovska gave a statement (January 24, TV Telma) on the Macedonian national interests and security in the context of the Russia-Ukraine crisis. In her statement, she expressed the support of our country for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

Then, the attack gained “occasion and content”. Rightists attacked this statement, again with no arguments, but by manipulating the statement to the point of being unrecognizable. What could be noticed in the organized pursuit against the Minister of Defense was extreme underestimation of the capacities of our country, and glorification of the Russian military power.

Then they repeat the same views

Nine days later (February 2, ТВ 21), senior party official of VMRO-DPMNE Aleksandar Nikolovski came out with the same views. Indeed, with slight relativization, in the sense “we should follow the position of the US”, but it’s quite clear that North Macedonia “should support the territorial integrity of Ukraine”.

It’s not the first time for the right-wing political entity, whose public appearances and actions on the ground are characterized by nationalism and anti-Western orientation, to “play” this way. In strategically important moments for the country, they are either silent (have no stance) or will unnoticeably push through their support for the Macedonian national interests Insufficient and unclear, but they are “correcting the course”.

The scheme is clear

Of course, that “correcting” regularly comes after they previously put the brakes and pour out all their anger and disagreements. More specifically, after they do as much as possible damage, they will contaminate the public communication. And after they profit politically at the expense of the democracy and the national strategic determinations and interests. They are practically never a target of anger and hatred (except when they are settling scores with each other), regardless of how much their views coincide with the ones that had previously caused a wave of negative propaganda. The scheme has been clear and recognizable for years.

It’s important to note that this is just one example and that it concerns several political parties of which VMRO-DPMNE is just the biggest and richest. The fact is that they have a common denominator in nationalism and in the anti-Western orientation. And they have a propaganda whose main weapon is disinformation and spreading of hatred, insecurity and fear.

Translation: N. Cvetkovska