Concrete measurability of policy successes, as well as focus on people, their practical needs and problems are part of Concept 28, a program that one of the candidates for new leader of SDSM, Jovan Despotovski is running in the by-elections, which will be held on Sunday, December 12.

- Concept 28 is the basis for a serious change in the way politics is practiced. The focus of every policy, of every government and political organization becomes the people, their practical needs, problems. We talk a lot about departments, functions, agreements, policies that are not based on real and measurable goals. "In Concept 28, we set precise and measurable results that will measure the performance of the president of SDSM," Despotovski said in an interview with MIA.

The current director of the TIDZ Directorate and the former head of the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development, together with Deputy Minister of Finance Dimitar Kovacevski and the former Minister of Labor and Social Policy and former Vice President of the Assembly, Frosina Remenski, will compete on Sunday in the second direct elections in the ruling party, after the resignation of Zoran Zaev.

"SDSM has shown that it has the knowledge and capacity, but also the courage to bring difficult challenges," Despotovski told MIA, adding that the country is moving forward, today Northern Macedonia is a NATO member and before the start of EU membership talks. He emphasizes that SDSM is a political organization that has shown that it knows, has the capacity to preserve the Macedonian national identity and expresses deep conviction that it will show that in the talks with Bulgaria.

Regarding the concentration of power in both positions, the leader of the ruling SDSM and Prime Minister of Northern Macedonia in one person says that he personally does not run away from challenges, but adds that he does not think that both positions must be linked to one person.

Especially not if we know that Northern Macedonia has many quality people. Proven in their field. Many people who are not involved in politics at all, and some are not in the country at all, says Despotovski.

He adds that if he gains the confidence to lead SDSM, he will immediately organize a wide discussion about the character, qualities, qualities of the future prime minister.

The whole interview with one of the candidates for future president of SDSM, Jovan Despotovski, follows.

Mr. Despotovski, you ran in the intra-party elections for president of SDSM. This will be the second election in the party after the changes by which the leader is elected in intra-party elections. You are aspiring to the leadership position in SDSM with the program "Concept 28" whose focus, as you announced, is the people. What specifically does it contain and what is Concept 28?

Concept 28 is the basis for a serious change in the way politics is practiced. The focus of every policy, of every government and political organization becomes the people, their practical needs, problems. We talk a lot about departments, functions, agreements, policies that are not based on real and measurable goals. In Concept 28, we set precise and measurable results that will measure the performance of the president of SDSM. The same approach - defining clear tasks and goals to be achieved is introduced for all public office holders.

We continue to build trust with concrete results. Success in politics, even in the highest positions, will be measured by a percentage increase in wages relative to inflation, by a percentage increase in investments in health and education, by a percentage of natural population growth.

In the implementation of policies and work, we go "out of the box". This means that we will no longer be tied to established practices of working in SDSM, but also the institutions, because "this is the easiest way" or "this is how we know best". We will simply change and evolve as dynamically as the world around us. We replace words with performance and implement policies that bring the best effect to citizens. No man must and will not be left out (No one left behind)!

What do you think the party has done in the past period, which is commendable, and what would you change in the party functioning, in the direction in which the party is moving? The local elections were a kind of alarm for the ruling party?

SDSM has shown that it has the knowledge and capacity, but also the courage to bring difficult challenges. The country is moving forward. Today, Northern Macedonia is a member of NATO and before the start of negotiations for EU membership. It shows that justice may be slow, but not unattainable - we have lawsuits against people in power and the opposition, people who have held serious public office. Transparency and accountability of state institutions have increased. These are good bases for where we should move in the future, both on a social and party level.

But that does not mean we stop here. Some things we need and must now move much faster and more efficiently.

The citizens sent a clear message in the last local elections that they are not satisfied. From all political organizations, without exception. The fact that over 150.000 people remain at home and vote regularly is a concern for all serious political parties.

With Concept 28 we introduce greater responsibility of public office holders. We are introducing a system in which the candidates for mayor and MP will be from the members, and not from the leadership. Thus, public office holders will turn to the citizens, not the leader. Public office carries a great deal of responsibility, and anyone elected will have to be prepared to handle it. No more room for improvisation, no more "hiding" from the public, friends, neighbors. We communicate on all open issues.

Changes are also announced by your opponents. What more would you offer from them?

We do not offer more, but differently, better, more efficiently. This country has lost too much time in the last 30 years and we are changing it. That is why we are setting measurable and concrete results, which will measure my work as president of SDSM.

Percentage reduction of the number of our fellow citizens living below the poverty line, percentage increase of the number of employed persons and as a share in the total active population in the country, percentage of wage growth, especially, but also in relation to the inflation rate, percentage of growth of public investments in education and health, as part of the priority areas, total and percentage of increase in the number of persons who previously went abroad and returned back in relation to the total population, percentage of increase in natural population growth, percentage of increase in quality of life index.

I invest all my capacity, everything I know and can do to achieve the goal - a dignified, beautiful life for all. And no man will be left out. That is my concept of victory, but not my personal one, but the victory of the people, of each of us.

In life, in politics, in the business world, there are people who speak and people who act. I am one of those who want change and measurable results from the policies undertaken and that makes me different. They often joke with me that "I am addicted to numbers", but I believe that only with concrete analysis and numbers can we know where we are, where we are starting from and what we are striving for, and finally measure whether we have achieved what we have achieved. we have outlined and promised. Only in this way will we show the citizens with facts that we have done.

As the current director of the Directorate of TIDZ, and previously the head of the Fund for Innovation and Technological Development, you focus on economic development. But are measures just enough for a better economic perspective, when we also face political problems that block or drag the country back?

There is no economy without stability. NATO membership is a serious, huge capital that this Government led by SDSM has brought to the country, to all citizens.

EU membership is the next step and I believe it is very achievable soon. And that is why I say that the continuity in these policies, in the approach of SDSM must be preserved. Concept 28 is a concept for strengthening SDSM, the progressive idea and strength in the country and the next parliamentary elections in 2024.

Will the same strategic priorities of the party and the Government remain, would you add or subtract something and what is your position on the European agenda of Northern Macedonia, what if we do not get a date for negotiations this month?

SDSM is a political organization that has shown that it knows, has the capacity to preserve the Macedonian national identity. I deeply believe that we will show that in the talks with Bulgaria. Commitment to the goal - starting negotiations with the EU is key. I believe, like every other honest person in this country, that this goal is within our reach.

The time for the intra-party campaign is short, the elections are on Sunday, surely by now you have an insight into how much support there is for you. Do you expect support or obstruction from party members?

The support for the president of SDSM comes from many sides. From members and supporters of SDSM. From friends, acquaintances, but also people I do not know, and these days they stop me on the street, they write to me. The support for Concept 28 is huge and I see it as an honor, but also as a huge obligation. Huge capital, not personal, but for SDSM and the state. We have shown that in our society there is a serious capacity of people, of thinking, of a critical mass that recognizes value. We have a surge of energy that we may not have felt in a long time.

I sincerely believe, I know that we will have an honest process until the end. I also want to believe that we start from 0: 0, that we have the same rules and honest judges.

Deadlines are extremely short, and our goal is for Concept 28 to reach as many people as possible. That's why we went "out of the box" here and use all modern communication tools to succeed. At the same time to "reach" the east, the west, the north and the south, and Bitola, and Strumica and Ohrid, and Kumanovo and Strumica and Krivogashtani and Ljubojno, and Krushevo, Stip, Tetovo , Kichevo. Let's be in my parent organization in Karposh. Where I grew up and where I started the first steps in the party organization.

If you become the new leader of SDSM, will you be the new Prime Minister, is concentrating the two functions in one person useful for the country, which has been facing a series of challenges in the past?

I do not run away from challenges. I showed that with the candidacy for president of SDSM. And I do not think that both positions must be related to one person. Especially not if we know that Northern Macedonia has a lot of quality people. Proven in their field. Many people who are not involved in politics at all, and some of them are not in the country at all.

With Concept 28 we introduce a completely new approach to the selection of office holders. We will not start with "who", but with "what" person / people we need. And, this will not "apply to everyone but me" but "will start with me". Therefore, we will apply this model for the election of a candidate for a new Prime Minister. If I gain the confidence to lead SDSM, we will immediately organize a wide discussion about the character, qualities, qualities of the future Prime Minister. I have already called all members, but also our fellow citizens to submit their proposals for future members of my team in SDSM. In 24 hours we received hundreds of messages with suggestions and reflections. We all look at them carefully.

Source: MIA