Mickoski to seek buyer for Alta Bank, SDSM accuses government of cover-up
Mickoski, the central bank governor and the finance minister will meet possible investors, while SDSM calls the move an attempt to hide criminality.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he, Governor Slaveski and Finance Minister Kocoshka will hold meetings in the coming days to look for an investor to buy Alta Bank, while opposition SDSM accused the government of trying to cover up wrongdoing through a sale.
“In the next few days, together with the governor and with the finance minister we will have a meeting or meetings with several financial institutions that could be potential buyers of the bank,” Mickoski said.
What is unclear
Authorities have not publicly confirmed whether the Deposit Insurance Agency in Serbia actually put Alta’s shares up for sale; the Serbian agency reportedly had a deadline until yesterday to take such steps, but officials in Belgrade and the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia (NBRM) have not provided a clear statement.
SDSM responded with sharp criticism, alleging that the same officials who allowed Alta to enter the Macedonian market are now orchestrating a sale to hide criminal acts.
“Now those who made the harmful decisions that allowed Alta Bank's entry are announcing the sale to a new owner. The aim is to cover up the matter and not reveal the crime,” said Bogdanska Kuzeska, spokesperson for SDSM.
Alta entered the Macedonian market late last year by taking over Stopanska Bitola. The situation escalated after the Serbian central bank recently revoked the operating licence of Alta Belgrade, triggering questions about the bank’s future in North Macedonia.
Photo: press material from the event
