North Macedonia’s Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski attended the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in Budapest on Thursday, where he delivered a speech and held a bilateral meeting with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
Mickoski is one of several European leaders taking part in the gathering, which organisers describe as the largest international event of conservative political forces. According to the government’s press office, Mickoski spoke at a session scheduled for 15:30 local time.
Other attendees at the conference include Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, former Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis, Polish politicians Jerzy Kwaśniewski and Mateusz Morawiecki, Austrian Freedom Party leader Herbert Kickl, Alice Weidel of Germany’s AfD, Jorge Buxadé of Spain’s Vox party, and U.S. conservative media figures Ben Shapiro, Jack Posobiec, and David Rubin.
In his remarks, Mickoski emphasised patriotism as a guiding principle for future prosperity, rejecting the notion that it is a regressive concept. He identified three core conservative values: God, country, and family.
“Today, we gather on this prominent international platform not just as representatives of our nations, but as carriers of shared ideals – ideals that have shaped the brightest moments of human history,” Mickoski said. “I come from a country in the heart of the Balkans, with deep roots and a vision for the future. History has taught us that true strength lies in loyalty to eternal values, which should never be compromised.”
He stressed the importance of spiritual heritage, invoking Saints Cyril and Methodius – credited with bringing literacy from Macedonia to the wider Slavic world – and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to preserving national identity.
“God is not an abstract concept, but a living Creator who calls us to justice and compassion,” he said, adding that Christian values are increasingly under attack. “We will never abandon our spirituality or our cultural legacy.”
Earlier in the day, Mickoski met with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban to discuss bilateral relations.
“Hungary is a sincere friend of ours, a strong supporter of our European integration and a strategic partner,” Mickoski wrote on Facebook following the meeting. “I reaffirmed that North Macedonia remains firmly committed to its European path, to achieving its European perspective, and to maintaining regional stability.”
He expressed gratitude for Hungary’s continued support and said the strategic partnership between the two countries would deepen further.
Orban, who opened the CPAC event on Wednesday, described Mickoski as “a hero” and praised his leadership in “protecting Europe’s borders from illegal migration.”