–
Not only Bulgaria is excited about a case of dual citizenship on the eve of decisive elections – in Northern Macedonia, a candidate with a chance to be the next mayor of Skopje got involved in a scandal.
However, the foreign passport, due to which the candidate of VMRO-DPMNE Danela Arsovska is pointed, is Bulgarian.
Moreover, behind the attack is not the party whose rule with Sofia had reached the lowest possible point in power, but the ruling Social Democrats of Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, who has long called Bulgarians “brothers” and who must seek a solution with Bulgaria. from the blockade of European integration.
Dangerously high stakes
“I will resign,” if Arsovska wins the elections in Skopje, said Zaev a few days ago. He once resigned – after France vetoed the start of negotiations in 2019 – and his new bid follows the first round of local elections, the results of which talk about the return of VMRO-DPMNE at least at the local level.
In recent days, in support of the current mayor, Petre Shilegov (SDSM), the campaign against Arsovska has been launched, led by posters and appeals on the Internet: assurances that the VMRO-DPMNE candidate has Bulgarian citizenship.
SDSM MP Slavyanka Petrova even published a copy of an ID card that allegedly belonged to Arsovska. The opposition candidate denied it. However, there is no number as an instruction in the platform of the Bulgarian Ministry of Interior for verification of documents.
Unlike this document, the website of the Ministry of Interior was discovered by Angel Arsovski – Danela’s husband, whose document, according to the given data, is valid. SDSM used the case to assure that Arsovska was “lying to citizens”, Petrovska said. Arsovska herself greeted the attacks against herself with bewilderment and said that she had never been a member of a party (she was actually only supported by VMRO-DPMNE).
“Mayor of Petrich”
VMRO-DPMNE quickly defended Arsovska, declaring that SDSM’s allegations were a proven lie. Arsovska linked the campaign to both Shilegov’s and Zaev’s confidence that it would win on Sunday.
–
The campaign against the “Hungarian consul with Bulgarian citizenship” (Arsovska actually held the post) did not end here. SDSM first used posters with the words “mayor of Petrich” with the Bulgarian flag on the inscription “mayor of Skopje” next to Arsovska’s image.
“It doesn’t matter if she is Bulgarian, the more important thing is that she hides and lies,” reads another poster on the SDSM website, published almost 24 hours ago.
–
The culmination of this process, two days before the day of reflection, was distributed from Petrovska a poster with the face of Arsovska and an inscription: “I will go out, I will vote! Skopje does not need a Bulgarian mayor!” (The last word is probably used with a negative connotation, as in Macedonian the usual for this post is “mayor”).
SDSM also published the poster, but it was later deleted.
At least two problems
When announced allegations of Bulgarian citizenship, hastened to distinguish from insult but “Bulgarian” line with the argument that “it does not matter how Danela feels, Northern Macedonia is home to all”, and the problem is insincerity. He insisted that according to the website of the Ministry of Interior and Arsovska’s card was valid (the ID card shown reads “Daniela” and not “Danela”).
“If Danela lies and hides about her Bulgarian citizenship, you can think about what else she hides and lies about.”
–
MP, SDSM
—
“Mrs. Arsovska, how many more secrets are you hiding … from which motives did you ask for Bulgarian citizenship? Whose interests are you working for?” message in the SDSM profile yesterday afternoon, in which the statement was repeated that it was “an installation of (Nikola Gruevski) from Budapest”. The former prime minister fled there in 2018.
In the next publication SDSM notes: “Danela Arsovska is a foreign installation – Skopje will not be led by a Hungarian consul with Bulgarian citizenship.” The allusion here obviously does not only concern Hungary.
–
–
At the same time, the campaign aroused bewilderment among many social media users in both Bulgaria and Northern Macedonia. Tens of thousands of citizens of Bulgaria’s southwestern neighbor have received Bulgarian passports. Among them are members of more than one party.
Two questions arise. First, how do the government expect – with the first provable without hesitation use of an “anti-Bulgarian card” and incitement to hatred in the election campaign – then to sit at the negotiating table with Bulgaria? Skopje hardened today to official Sofia, hinting at interference by the Bulgarian authorities in Macedonian domestic policy through meetings with Macedonian Bulgarians and asked Bulgaria to show “prepared for dialogue”.
Second, in the SDSM profile, the posters are “against” Arsovska, not “for” Shilegov. The effect of a campaign that has become completely negative in recent days, instead of highlighting what the current mayor has done, is yet to be seen.
However, the campaign – led in a sense at the expense of Bulgaria – well portrayed the mood in Skopje after a long-running dispute with Sofia and on the eve of elections that already risk reshaping the political map.
–
