Similarly to what happened five years ago, Macedonian intellectuals, academics, professors, doctors, priests, artists and athletes signed a petition to be provided to the Convention of VMRO-DPMNE demanding that Gjorge Ivanov be nominated for president again, Utrinski vesnik reports.

Some of those initially cited to have signed the petition, including Vilma Trajkovska, late President Boris Trajkovski’s wife, and Velimir Stojkovski, Rector of the University of Ss Cyril and Methodius, told Telegraf.mk they did not sign the petition.

“Nobody consulted me. Most probably this is a mistake. Has my signature been abused? It is true I signed the petition in support of Ivanov’s election as president five years ago, but I did not sign it now,” Trajkovska said.

VMRO-DPMNE’s communication center confirmed Sunday they had received the initiative in support of current President Gjorge Ivanov. Sources from VMRO-DPMNE, however, say this initiative did not originate from the party.