SDSM and DUI have never even discussed a joint Skopje mayor candidate for the local elections in October, said Prime Minister and SDSM leader Zoran Zaev on Friday.

“No, we haven’t even discussed this topic of a joint candidate. (DUI’s announcement) is about political platform, prospects, future,” PM Zaev told reporters.

He said the focus is on the coalition partner’s modernization.

“As we presented the changes in our party as the largest partner in the coalition, including electronic registration of members, direct vote, equal representation of men and women and greater involvement of youth in the party, so will DUI about this qualitative change. I hope they will achieve success that we will hear about tomorrow,” said Zaev.

On making coalitions for the local elections, Zaev said this would primarily be done with partners DUI, Besa and DPA, but also with opposition parties from the Albanian bloc.

“SDSM is a unifying factor. We have always been a unifying ethnic, religious, cultural and political factor. We created the largest, multiethnic coalition for the parliamentary elections. Thirty-two parties supported President Pendarovski, so we will also promote unification for these elections too. Why? Because power lies in unity and unity produces success,” said Zaev.

According to him, a portion of the coalitions will be created for the first round of elections, another for the runoff.

“Of course, with coalition partners at national level, because we have 25-26 political parties who believe in the same cause. We have three parties of ethnic Albanians in the coalition – DUI, Besa and DPA – but we also cooperate with opposition parties,” noted Zaev.

The PM added that SDSM is a “problem solver”, extending a hand to the opposition.