Lefkov: SDSM aligns with China and opposes the United States over data centres

Mile Lefkov, a member of VMRO‑DPMNE's Executive Committee and a party MP, accused SDSM leadership and Health Minister Venko Filipche at a press conference of adopting positions on planned data centres that, in his view, place them alongside China and against the United States.

Lefkov said the party’s public messaging—described by VMRO‑DPMNE as spreading “lies and hysteria”—undermines North Macedonia’s strategic alignment with the US and echoes narratives originating from Chinese social media accounts.

Claims about influence and competition

“There are also attempts in the United States to create public opinion against the construction of data centers. According to reports in the American media, the same information against the data center industry is being spread in an organized way by a large number of profiles from China. And these social media profiles organized from China are on the same line as Filipche or Filipche is on the same line with them. And China's position is understandable because the United States is the greatest competitor when it comes to data centers. But Filipche's position is not understandable,” Lefkov said.

Speaking to reporters, Lefkov asked Filipche whether he really believes citizens gain nothing from a developed industry and whether a national data centre that would house state and citizens' data is not a benefit for the country.

The statement adds a new flare-up to an ongoing public debate about the construction of data centres in North Macedonia, pitting rival political narratives over economic opportunity, national security and foreign influence.

Photo: press material from the event