SDSM leader Zoran Zaev, two days after the first round of local elections, addressed a letter to his party members, calling for unification. He emphasizes in the letter that the citizens in the first round of the elections sent them a clear message that they must listen to, understand and act upon. Zaev's letter sent to his party members, which was obtained exclusively by "Free Press" through party sources, is transmitted to you in its entirety:

"Comrades, brave Social Democrats, supporters of democracy and progress,

Let me thank you for all your commitment and work that you have given for these elections, but also for all the processes in the past years through which together we have made great changes in Macedonian society. The work is ours, common to all, but today it is clear that change is not enough, that it should happen much faster and better and that our struggle is not over.

The citizens sent us a clear message in the first round of these elections and we must listen to that message, understand it and act upon it. The people are not for VMRO-DPMNE. But at the same time the people want a much better result and a much higher intensity of change realized by SDSM. We can and must deliver that. All of us, each of us. Together.

Citizens demand our mobilization and our struggle for a new cycle of change. The citizens want the country and the municipalities to move forward and we must do our best for that to happen. Otherwise, the regime knocks on the door. And he has already managed to enter some of the municipalities. We have a democratic obligation to fight, to deliver change and improvement in the way we govern and to stand in the way of the threats and dangers posed by VMRO-DPMNE.

We are entering the second round and fighting for every vote, for every city, for every municipality. There are no important and unimportant. Everyone is important. If we want to win this fight, we must understand that every person is important, every voice is important. Every voice must be heard, respected, respected. That is the change that the citizens demand from us. Therefore, we must increase our accessibility, openness and expediency in solving the problems of each individual, of each group of citizens. We are not and will never be unreachable and inaccessible, it does not suit us. On the contrary, we are and must remain modest and down to earth. And only in this way will we maintain the direction in which we set our country together.

Therefore, I call you to UNITE!

Now is the time to unite because on the other side are the same thugs and criminals who have been destroying our country for years. SDSM is wrong, but it is learning and correcting itself. VMRO-DPMNE is a party of arbitrariness and usurpation of everything state for its own interests. And here there is a big difference. Now is the time to fight, to respect everyone's voice and to unite. And we are fighters, we are open people and an open party and we know yes
we listen, and we act, and we change. We have proven that, and shown through numerous examples when we have accepted the criticism and messages from the citizens and we have seriously revised and improved our steps and policies.

They say that in order for evil to win, it is enough for good people to do it
nothing. This time, we will not observe and do nothing while evil is
threatens. We will act! Therefore, I ask for action from every municipal organization.

It is extremely important and necessary for every Municipal Election Headquarters to be in constant consultation with the Central Election Headquarters and to follow the directions, on the one hand, but also to be open to suggestions, views and messages that come from the membership, from the supporters and from the citizens, on the other hand.

A quick analysis and return to the field is needed IMMEDIATELY. They need fast
changes и stock who will contribute con FIGHT, ACKNOWLEDGMENT AT THE VOICE AT
THE CITIZENS, UNIFICATION and thus VICTORY of SDSM in the second round of elections.
That and how it is possible and within reach.

It depends on us. We need to address and lend a hand to everyone
man, every single vote we may have missed in the first round.
SDSM th heard the voice on citizens и will do everything Yes th unite
progress.

Forward comrades. The fight continues!

Your,
"Zoran Zaev", reads the letter.