Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski returns from Belgium; says he met investors, not politicians
Mickoski says the trip to Belgium was a family educational visit with his two sons; SDSM alleges talks on state matters were held outside institutional channels.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski has returned to Skopje after a week-long trip to Belgium that he describes as a "scientific-educational excursion" with his two sons, and not a political mission. Mickoski publicly outlined his itinerary today, saying the family visited several Belgian cities to study their history, culture and landmarks.
According to the prime minister, the short tour was also an expression of a family principle: at least once a year he moves his children’s upbringing out of the home and onto European soil. Mickoski said there were no political meetings in Brussels but that there were business talks.
Mickoski said he held three meetings with investors while in Belgium: two potential new investors and a third investor planning to expand an existing project. He announced that agreements related to the talks are expected to be signed in the autumn.
Opposition raises questions
The SDSM party reacted sharply, saying it is suspicious that a private trip could have been used to conduct discussions on state matters outside institutional channels. SDSM officials demand clarity over "in whose name" and "for what" Mickoski spoke while abroad.
SDSM released a pointed statement accusing the prime minister of treating the country as his private property: "Mickoski treats Macedonia as his private property. He decides alone. He negotiates alone. While Timcho Mucunski talks about talks 'under the radar', Mickoski conducts those talks personally, in a family arrangement, away from the eyes of the public and institutions. This is not statesmanlike responsibility. This is the privatization of the state. Citizens have the right to know: What was agreed? What was accepted? What is hidden? Macedonia is not Mickoski’s private company, even if he sees it that way. And its future is not negotiated on family excursions."
The SDSM suspicions tie back to a remark by Foreign Minister Timcho Mucunski from roughly two weeks ago, when he referred to discussions happening "under the radar" as part of efforts to unblock the country's European path, without providing details. Mucunski has recently replied that there are no secret talks and that he never said otherwise.
Photo: press material from the event
