The President of VMRO-DPMNE Hristijan Mickoski sent an open letter to the government, which we convey to you below:

- I am writing this open letter on the eve of the day when the black balance of those infected with the Corona virus is the highest since the beginning of this Pandemic in Macedonia. It is a difficult day for the people who are in the front line of the fight against the virus, but I sincerely believe it is also a difficult day for every single person who follows the news with trembling.

And every one of you is rightly concerned, because I am also concerned, and I know that this must not be a battle of mad courage without wisdom, but of courage used wisely to overcome the common challenge we face. And fear is inevitable because we are all facing an unknown and new phenomenon and it becomes clear that the devil took the joke when counting the dead in Italy and other countries where smiling people filled the squares, shopping malls, public places until just a few weeks ago, and today loved ones say goodbye to the dead.

The virus is not a joke, but a common new battle of Macedonia that we must win together. And I want to say a few words about the political milieu that welcomes the pandemic in the country.

This open letter of awakening of consciousness means a helping hand to the government with which I want to emphasize that you have a friend in us, and the common enemy that we must defeat is the pandemic that takes lives. Hence, quite conscientiously and reasonably as a person, but also as a leader of VMRO-DPMNE, I have a collective responsibility to point out the things that must be better, because if they are not, then we will lose lives. My fear is because we have serious weaknesses in the system that we must admit fails at a time when it must function surgically precisely.

A friend from abroad asked me how do you deal with the virus? I answered, measures are being taken, that is, although deep down I know that it is not so, that the situation is alarming and that it must get better. The picture of the minister with a medical naked and unprotected health team is the picture of the Macedonian health and the way of working in Macedonia. Doctors are allowed to deal with a pandemic unprotected, unsafe, at risk for their lives, but the first of the minister is important, and Filipce's stickers in the style of Superman are more important. Filipce is far from a superman, maybe a businessman, but he is more of a spokesman at a time when he should only be a minister. I refuse to reduce the debate to this level and that is why I will say cancel the first one, this is not a square for that there will be time when we will measure ourselves in that field as well, but now we have to show more responsibility than anything before. That is why it is necessary as a society to mobilize, to take urgent and drastic measures as soon as possible and without delay. The control over the situation is lost because new hotspots of the virus are opened every day. The available hospitals are insufficient and the capacities are poor. Not only those suffering from coronary heart disease suffer here, but also those suffering from other diseases who will not receive timely help due to their busyness with dealing with the current pandemic. It is not uncommon for you not to get help because the system is blocked. Hence, we must focus jointly and strongly on drastic measures. Every day spent without them will mean more lives to be lost.

It is necessary to introduce a stricter curfew, at least from 18 pm, in order to have substance with it and make order, an hour sooner. The streets must be emptied for a moment to scan the situation.

There must be a protocol for testing for suspected coronaviruses and they must be completely free of charge in public and private health care. Double the inspection capacities. There is now complete chaos where citizens say that private tests are more credible because state institutions hide the infected. Therefore, action should be taken to remove those doubts.

I must admit that I am also seriously concerned about the economic recession that awaits us. The state goes to the very edge. Thousands of people stop going to work, and the damage is greater than the government's nonchalant attitude. Those measures announced by Zaev are far from sufficient.

The state should immediately cover 50% of all staff costs, salaries and contributions. To freeze installment payments to banks and lenders because it is good for the banks as well, but also to come up with a detailed program of the Government and government officials to financially cut their privileges and unproductive spending. Let us start by saving not from the working people, but from the privileges of those in power, by personal example. I will warn you that money in conditions of such a crisis is becoming more expensive day by day, because there is less and less. Borrowing if you wait too long will be of great interest and therefore a rational plan should be made to find fresh capital on the most favorable terms that can be provided. We, as the government that was then in opposition, do not write letters to block the borrowing.

And I want to point out something to Zaev and Spasovski, regardless of the fact that I and VMRO-DPMNE propose these measures, accept them as soon as possible, accept them for the good of the state and all our citizens. Accept them, and I will give up all the political laurels I will give you. I do not need such fame, just accept them and act immediately. The citizens and Macedonia need help and leadership.

And I will continue to fight with proposals and activities that will mean help for the citizens and the economy. And it is possible for every one of you who will read this letter, it is simple, to behave responsibly and conscientiously and stay at home, so you will protect yourself and others. As for the economy, buy Macedonian products and you will surely save a job.

Finally, all those who think that they can profit from this crisis, respirators, wheat and bigoted politicians, businessmen should know "health is a real treasure, not pieces of gold and silver", and the time will come to answer for who took both gold and silver on the backs of the afflicted people. But now is not the time for that debate, and I am writing this so that it may be noticed and remembered. This is primarily a letter to awaken the conscience of those who run the country, to put ourselves above the situation and to act responsibly and decisively. This is a time of great decisions that will save lives and protect our country.

My younger son this morning my dad asked me again a battle, I replied, ours never stopped this time I do not know how long this will last but I know we will win. "Together we will surely win, because we love Macedonia," reads the open letter.