Filipche demands resignation of Trajko Slaveski and prosecutor probe over Alta Bank entry

Venko Filipche, leader of SDSM, demanded the resignation of National Bank governor Trajko Slaveski and called on the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office to open a criminal investigation into how Alta Bank entered North Macedonia.

Filipche spoke after the National Bank of Serbia announced it had revoked the licence of the Serbian Alta Bank, which owns Alta Bank Bitola (the former Stopanska Banka Bitola). Both the Serbian and Macedonian banks have previously been linked in political debate to alleged corruption and influence, and the licence withdrawal has triggered political reactions in both countries.

Calls for answers and immediate action

SDSM is asking for an urgent response, while VMRO-DPMNE has said the banking system is stable. Filipche reminded reporters that SDSM's anti-corruption team asked last December why Alta Bank was allowed to enter the Macedonian market, and he said the main question now is whether Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Governor Trajko Slaveski properly assessed the risk when admitting the bank — or whether, in Filipche's words, they knew exactly what kind of bank it was and formed part of a criminal network in Serbia.

Filipche also warned about runs at Alta Bank branches in several Macedonian towns and demanded clarity from the central bank. He said:

"The question arises whether the deposits of our citizens are endangered. The question arises whether the deposits of public enterprises are endangered. the question arises whether now someone in the National Bank or in the Government will do something to stop this stampede that is already happening in front of Alta Bank branches in several cities in our country. Naturally people are scared. We appeal for the governor to come out clearly and loudly and say whether there is room for concern for citizens. And the governor should also face not only his moral responsibility and resign, but also face criminal responsibility for which we call on the Basic Public Prosecutor's Office to launch an investigation. Whether he knew well what kind of bank he allowed into the country",

Filipche tied the Serbian development to longer-standing warnings by SDSM about the influence of the so‑called "Serbian world" in North Macedonia and referenced statements by European institutions and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

He described the events in Serbia as confirmation of those warnings: "In Serbia the armageddon has started, the Balkan cartel is falling apart, the Balkan mafia, it started from Orban, Vucic, next is Hristijan Mickoski," Filipche said.

Filipche also said SDSM had for months signalled concerns about Alta Bank's operations and alleged links to illicit funds. He stated:

"And now what we have pointed out in recent months, Alta Bank, which according to media sources and our political contacts in Serbia was a bank linked to criminally obtained money from crime, from corruption, stolen money from citizens, money that comes from trafficking and drug smuggling. And yesterday that bank, after just a few hours earlier the National Bank of Serbia said that everything was fine, in the night after midnight had its licence revoked",

He added that the term "Serbian world" should not be conflated with the Serbian people, but applied to political and criminal structures allegedly connected to VMRO‑DPMNE and Prime Minister Mickoski. Filipche also pointed to media influence and to a recently appointed consul, Adamović, whom he described as linked to Serbian mafia circles and about whom the prime minister did not answer questions in parliament.

For now, the immediate political consequence is a call from the opposition for resignation and investigation, and a promise from other parties that the banking system remains sound — while customers at branches in Bitola and other towns have been reported queuing to withdraw funds.

Photo: press material from the event