Original title: RODINA MACEDONIA: German Ambassador Should Stop Supporting the Bulgarian Claims!
On November 7th, the Kolozheg portal published an article titled: RODINA MACEDONIA: The German Ambassador Should Stop Supporting the Bulgarian Claims! The content is in fact a statement of the political party Rodina, which is known for its anti-European views and efforts, and another such content from the party and the portal Koloгeg which supports it is nothing new. This time, the anti-European rhetoric is reinforced with graphics, i.e. photomontage of the flag of the European Union in which the swastika is inserted – the symbol of Nazi Germany.
Rodina’s statement directed against the negotiations with Bulgaria is dominated by the speech against Bulgaria, but also against the so-called self-proclaimed representatives of our government, as the party likes to call them, who allegedly met the Bulgarian demands.
In the context of the anti-European narrative developed and supported by this political party, the statement said that the EU was secretly behind the Bulgarian demands, as evidenced by the absence of condemnation of Bulgaria for its indecent demand, which the Macedonians would not have as they did not in World War II, when they were occupied by the Bulgarian occupier as an ally of the Nazi axis.
It is emphasized that the Macedonian people are not in favor of EU membership and ends with the fact that Rodina Macedonia will not recognize global fascist plans.
The views of the political party Rodina are contained in their program goals, published on their official website, from which it can be seen that they do not recognize the constitutional name of the country, oppose the integration of North Macedonia in the EU and NATO, but advocate for integration into all global and regional Eurasian integrations (EAES, SHOS, Silk Road).
What the party is manipulating the public with in this case is that the German ambassador allegedly supports the Bulgarian demands, which is not true. Namely, in her statement from October 28th, she said that bilateral issues should be resolved bilaterally and that the European Union could not interfere in the relations between a member state and a candidate country. The German Ambassador to the country, Anke Holstein, further emphasized that “holding the first intergovernmental conference between the EU and North Macedonia is our goal as the German presidency in the enlargement process and we firmly adhere to that goal. We will do everything we can to make that happen. We are in close contact with everyone involved. There is still little time. It is in everyone’s interest for that to happen. We are also optimistic.”
These statements of the German ambassador clearly indicate that they contradict the claims made in Rodina’s statement, which aims to undermine the trust in the European Union and to present the Union as being on the side of Bulgaria, although this is not the case, i.e. the EU. does not interfere in bilateral disputes.
Another manipulation stated in the statement is that the Macedonian people are not in favor of EU membership. This conclusion is based on their personal party views, although the citizens of RNM support EU membership, i.e. they are in favor of joining the EU. This is shown by the public opinion poll conducted by IRI, which shows that the support of the citizens is constantly at a high level, with 96% in 2008, and 80% in February 2020 (p. 29).
This is a case of propaganda against the European Union coming from a political party, which, by advocating for its program goals, uses manipulation and presentation of its own conclusions that are not supported by facts. It is also interesting that the statement mentions the global fascists, a conspiracy theory that is especially popular and about which much is written on the portal Kolozeg. In this sensitive period of negotiations with the Bulgarian neighbor, such views are only a basis for unnecessary raising of tensions, and the photomontage that connects the EU with fascism is especially problematic.
