'12:05': Internal SDSM Platform Demands Filipche's Resignation and a New Congress
A group of SDSM members, under the name '12:05,' submitted a reform plan demanding leader Venko Filipche's resignation, a new Congress, new leadership and a new party identity, triggering internal clashes with accusations of being 'defectors.'
An internal SDSM initiative presenting itself under the name "12:05" has submitted a document with reform demands aimed directly at the party's leadership. The platform calls for leader Venko Filipche's resignation, the convening of a new Congress, the election of new leadership and, more broadly, a new party identity that would move SDSM away from its current course.
The initiative triggered a visible clash within the party's ranks — part of the existing leadership and Filipche's supporters labeled the "12:05" members "defectors," accusing them of internal division at a time when the opposition faces challenges ahead of local and parliamentary processes. The platform's supporters, for their part, say they are seeking consolidation through renewal rather than a split.
The clash comes as Filipche publicly criticizes the government over EU roadmap issues and the remains of Tsar Samuel, trying to position himself as a vocal opposition figure against the Mickoski government — while simultaneously facing internal pressure over his own position at the helm of SDSM.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · October 3, 2026
