Platform "Razgovori za idninata 12:05" demands resignations of Trajko Slaveski and Gordana Dimitrieska‑Kochoska over Alta Banka Bitola

The platform "Razgovori za idninata 12:05" has demanded the resignations of Trajko Slaveski, governor of the National Bank, and Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska‑Kochoska following events at Alta Banka Bitola and the central bank's decision to place the lender under temporary administration.

In a statement, the platform described the developments as a serious blow to confidence in the banking system and warned of the risk of broader financial instability. It says the entry of Alta Banka onto the North Macedonian market was marked from the start by political interference and a lack of transparency.

According to the platform, there was an alleged direct intervention by the Ministry of Finance and by the Government during the takeover of the Bitola bank by the Serbian Alta Bank, while supervision by the National Bank was insufficient. The platform also cites figures showing Alta Banka Bitola reported a loss of €791,000 through September of this year and argues that authorities failed to act on those risks.

Calls for immediate measures and changed decisions

The platform criticized the National Bank's move to introduce temporary administration in Alta Banka Bitola as late, confusing and unclear. It urged urgent, decisive steps to restore public trust and to calm panic among depositors, including a re‑examination of the central bank's rule that currently allows citizens to withdraw only 10,000 denars per week while they are still being asked to meet obligations to the bank.

"Without delay, assess the operating capacity of the insurance company Alta Osiguruvanje in order to prevent potential endangerment of claims payments. The most important measures are support for citizens and companies, especially in the Pelagonia region. North Macedonia must not experience a new TAT or Eurostandard," the platform said.

As a way out of the crisis, the platform proposes that Governor Trajko Slaveski deposit his resignation with parliament, to take effect only after the National Bank has adopted all necessary decisions to secure funds held by citizens and businesses at Alta Banka Bitola. The group also demands the resignation of Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska‑Kochoska as political responsibility for decisions connected to Alta Banka.

The platform additionally called on President Gordana Siljanovska‑Davkova to convene an extraordinary session of the Security Council and to invite representatives of the National Bank and relevant financial and regulatory bodies to examine the circumstances that allowed what it calls suspicious capital to enter the domestic banking sector and to identify measures to protect citizens and the economy.

Photo: press material from the event