Filipche calls for national mobilization against data‑center projects
Filipche says the Pehcevo agenda item was withdrawn after pressure from SDSM and public protests, but warns the government has not given up.
Venko Filipche, leader of the opposition SDSM, accused the government of Hristijan Mickoski of attempting to push through construction of a data center in Pehcevo and urged a "national mobilization" to block such projects.
According to Filipche, under pressure from SDSM, its municipal councillors and public outcry the agenda item on the construction was pulled from today's session of the Municipal Council of Pehcevo.
In a video message posted to social media, Filipche warned that the authorities have not abandoned the plan and called for broad civic action: "But that does not mean the authorities have given up on the idea. That is why I call for a national mobilization to prevent water and electricity from falling into the hands of profiteers on the backs of the people. Mickoski and VMRO-OKG want to sell citizens' water and electricity and put them at the service of foreign data centers for their own tender profits. They want the people close to Mickoski and VMRO-OKG to enrich themselves at the expense of citizens," he said.
Filipche urged municipal councillors across the country to unite and oppose any measures that would place public water and power under private or foreign control, arguing such decisions would benefit a narrow circle of bidders and allies of the ruling bloc.
He reiterated SDSM's stance that the party was the first to oppose measures that endanger public utilities for private gain: "SDSM is the first to clearly oppose placing water and electricity at risk because of the business interests of the authorities. The robbery must be stopped before it is too late. We must stop this evil they are preparing for us. We can only do it together. Let's show that in such moments we can and must be united in the interest of the citizens and the state. Since we no longer have the mechanisms of power, we can have civic resistance — resistance to this criminal authority. I call on all citizens as well. We must stop the data centers," he said.
The opposition leader framed the row as both a local and national issue and asked citizens and councillors to remain vigilant as further steps related to the plan could reappear on municipal agendas.
Photo: Arhiva
