The Academy was opened by Daniel Braun, the Official Representative of the Konrad Adenauer Foundation, who emphasized that local politics is the first point of contact between citizens and the state. Therefore, it is crucial to adequately address citizens’ needs and act in a citizen-oriented manner. He also highlighted that the seminar, organized by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Party Research and Analytical Center “Ljubisha Georgievski”, would offer good practices and examples that he hope would be engaging and spark discussions.
The event was also addressed by the President of VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, who stated that mayors from VMRO-DPMNE have set new standards of work during their past three and a half years of service and serve as examples of honest and dedicated work for the local communities they represent. He further emphasized that VMRO-DPMNE expects an even greater victory in the upcoming local elections, as a result of the work done during the previous period.
Following this, the head of Party Research and Analytical Center, Svetislav Vasev, addressed the participants, thanked them for their participation, and reflected on the importance of the media presence of mayors and how they communicate their messages to the citizens, while also listening to citizens’ voices and translating them into policy.
The Academy was also addressed by the party’s Secretary General, Gjorgjija Sajkoski, who stated that the mayors’ dedication must continue in the future.
The Academy continued on Saturday with a full day of lectures and training sessions delivered by Motiva and concluded on Sunday with an expert presentation by the government spokesperson and member of the Executive Committee of VMRO-DPMNE, Marija Miteva. She spoke about the importance of high-quality and timely communication of accomplishments with the citizens, media relations, social media presence, and other forms of communication.
In the final segment dedicated to conclusions and reflections, Davor Pasoski from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and Svetislav Vasev joined the discussion. This part included a conversation with participants about the needs and priorities for the period ahead.
The Political Academy 2025 represented a significant step toward strengthening the capacities of local self-government and enhancing the strategic and communication skills of mayors from VMRO-DPMNE. Through lectures, training sessions, and discussions, participants had the opportunity to exchange experiences, identify challenges at the local level, and develop new approaches to improve communication with citizens. In this regard, it was particularly emphasized that continuous investment in the training and education of local leaders is a key precondition for building more efficient, transparent, and accountable local self-governments that are fully focused on the needs of their citizens.
