SDSM asks Prosecutor's Office to open probe into Independence Day spending
SDSM demanded a probe into how funds for the state's independence celebration were used; VMRO‑DPMNE countered with accusations over past unpunished tragedies.
Opposition party SDSM today asked the Public Prosecutor's Office to open an investigation into how funds were spent on the state's Independence Day celebrations. Party representatives stood outside the prosecutors' building and demanded a formal probe into the budgeting and procurement linked to the event.
Political clash over accountability
VMRO‑DPMNE responded to the request with sharp criticism of SDSM and its former coalition partner DUI, arguing that officials from those groups have escaped accountability for earlier incidents. The party specifically mentioned the Laskarci tragedy and the modular hospital in Tetovo as cases where, it says, responsible figures were not prosecuted.
SDSM framed its demand as part of broader calls for transparency in public spending, saying the public deserves clarity about how taxpayer money was used for official celebrations. The party urged prosecutors to examine contracts, invoices and any possible irregularities.
VMRO‑DPMNE accused the opposition of selective outrage and claimed that judges and prosecutors aligned with SDSM protected individuals from responsibility in other high-profile cases. The party's statement linked the lack of prosecutions in Laskarci and the Tetovo modular hospital to institutional bias.
The Prosecutor's Office has not yet announced whether it will open a formal investigation. Both parties warned of further political and legal steps depending on how prosecutors respond to the requests and accusations.
Photo: press material from the event
