SDSM has issued a sharp response to the ruling coalition of VMRO-DPMNE and ZNAM, accusing them of keeping Macedonia isolated from European integration - and doing so to protect concrete criminal interests. „They are not Bulgarophiles. They are Bulgarians with Macedonian citizenship who use the state for their own personal interests", the party's statement reads.

The trigger was an earlier attack by the current coalition on SDSM, with accusations of „Bulgarophilia" - a classic political opera in which each side accuses the other of something they themselves have done.

SDSM reminds the public that part of the officials in power hold Bulgarian passports. The statement names the family of Prime Minister Mickoski and the coalition's chief media propagandist, Dragan Pavlović Latas. The party claims „half of the current government and the VMRO-ZNAM parliamentary group" hold Bulgarian citizenship.

SDSM also takes aim at Maksim Dimitrijevski, the ZNAM leader, whom they describe as „the collaborator". According to them, Dimitrijevski founded ZNAM on Mickoski's orders, with the aim of splitting the opposition. It's hardly a new accusation - SDSM has been using this line in recent months as ZNAM has been slipping in polls.

The core argument from SDSM is that the government doesn't want to enshrine minorities in the Constitution, so as to keep the EU integration process going. According to them, an „isolated, weak and corrupt Macedonia" suits this coalition. That's a heavy charge. And hard to prove without concrete evidence of what is being gained from isolation.

But the reverse is also hard to deny. Macedonia became a NATO member in 2020, but EU negotiations are blocked by Sofia. Constitutional amendments remain a talking point, with no decision date. The economy stalls. Emigration continues. Is this a designed result, or chronic failure? SDSM says it's designed. Voters will decide at the next elections.

For the reader who wonders why parties argue over „Bulgarophilia" instead of concrete policies - the answer is simple. The parties don't have concrete policies. They have this topic, and that's how they hold their voters. „Bulgarophile" sounds like a lot. „Healthcare reform" sounds like a little. That's it.