What changed in Skopje in Orce Gjorgjievski’s first year as mayor?

The television debate "Direktno so Mladen" on November 3, 2026, reviewed the first year of Orce Gjorgjievski's term as mayor of Skopje and questioned what has actually changed in the city since he took office.

Supporters point to progress, NGOs protest exclusion

On air, defenders of the mayor stressed that the municipal administration has addressed a number of long-standing problems, while representatives of civil society said they experience indifference and dismissal when trying to contribute. The show framed that contrast bluntly: "For Gjorgjievski many of the problems in the City of Skopje have been resolved, while NGOs have faced ignorance and condescension," the programme summary said.

Participants returned to the set of promises that carried Gjorgjievski to victory: cleaner streets, improved public transport, fewer illegal dumps, new parks and resolved infrastructure issues. "Cleaner city, better public transport, fewer illegal dumps, new parks and solved infrastructure problems. These were the promises with which Mayor Orce Gjorgjievski won trust," the programme added.

NGO speakers on the broadcast emphasized that, regardless of proclaimed results, they still encounter limited access to decision-making and slow responsiveness from municipal offices. They urged more transparent consultation and concrete timelines for planned projects.

The mayor's supporters replied that visible changes take time and highlighted selected interventions the City has launched during the past year. The debate did not produce a clear consensus: audience and panellists left the question open as to whether the scale and pace of change meet voters' expectations.

The episode aired at 21:19 on November 3, 2026, and the discussion is likely to continue in public forums as municipal initiatives advance into their second year.

Photo: press material from the event