Filipche and Mickoski clash in parliament over mines and finance
The SDSM leader accused the prime minister of 'selling the country' with new concessions; the PM called the claims lies and said audits will vindicate his government.
Venko Filipche and Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski exchanged sharp accusations in the Assembly on Thursday during a session devoted to MPs' questions, turning a routine debate into a broad political confrontation over alleged financial irregularities and plans to open new mines.
Filipche accused Mickoski of mounting smear campaigns, insulting citizens, dodging public accountability and allowing the country to be sold off to private interests. From the parliamentary podium he directly addressed the prime minister with a pointed rebuke:
"I want to say 'honourable prime minister', but I cannot. I respect the office, however, Prime Minister, not you personally, mostly because of the way you practice power. You use various propaganda mechanisms, false campaigns, smearing, discreditation. You work, you create space for the political 'shooting' of your political opponents, but also of your close people who do not work the way you dictate to them."
Allegations on Serbia ties, prosecutions and mines
Filipche warned that political support networks tied to Serbia are weakening after the defeat of former Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić and said that Mickoski could face questions from European institutions. He cited a recent public remark by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and said accountability may reach the European prosecutor: "I know that it is not easy for you now, the second mentor is gone. That system of support from Serbia is slowly disappearing and you will be left alone. The question is what will you do? You will probably have to answer questions not only here, but also in other places. As the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen clearly, unequivocally, very brutally and, as you would say, robustly, said that before Europe one will have to answer before the European prosecution."
He also raised concerns about suspicious financial transfers and new spatial plans that include mining concessions, naming projects and sites by their local names and urging the prime minister to state his position: which projects does he back for Shutka–Ilovica, Kazandol, the antimony mine in Kriva Palanka and exploratory work on Kožuf. Filipche warned that if procedures begin, they will encounter strong civic resistance.
Mickoski rejected the accusations as lies and an expression of the opposition's impotence, saying time and audit reports will prove the government's record. He responded sharply to the linkage between Serbian politics and North Macedonian affairs: "These press conferences that your political party carries, and regarding the elections in Serbia and their connection to us in the context of who was whose mentor, I will not comment. We'll let time answer all that you say today and you send lies. So in these six months there's not even a 'k' of crime, but confirmation that this government has done a good deed for this country."
Mickoski also addressed the personal nature of some attacks and turned psychological language back at Filipche: "What is your problem, you are a medical professional, you well know what the subconscious is in both a philosophical and health sense. The subconscious is a very interesting thing, it can always be problematic. That subconscious sometimes represents a great burden. What you feel as subconscious you project onto others. And that is a problem, but that is your problem, it is not ours." He added that he would not respond to insults and extreme allegations: "You accused me of transferring drugs, money, what have I not heard — that I'm an idiot and I don't know what else. I will not stoop to that level and answer you; I think you don't deserve it."
On the topic of concessions and mines, Mickoski blamed earlier governments and said he supports the antimony project in Kriva Palanka, arguing that some of the concession groundwork dates back to administrations led by SDSM. He also accused the opposition of selling state assets in the past, saying his government is restoring what was sold. Filipche replied with a final jab suggesting Mickoski had chosen the wrong profession and would be better suited to edit a tabloid, closing the session with the line: "In regard to the other part of the answer, I would say that you have the wrong profession, you would be a good editor of 'Informer' or 'Kolegium', but unfortunately they are shutting down now. Running the state is not for you."
Photo: SDSM
