Bitola public enterprises keep 13,380,169 denars in Alta Bank

Six of Bitola’s eight municipal public enterprises keep money in Alta Bank A.D. Bitola, and their combined balances total 13,380,169 denars — more than €219,000, Mayor Toni Konjanovski announced after publishing account figures on his Facebook page.

Local initiative asks for emergency council session

The independent civic initiative "Poinaku" has requested an extraordinary session of the Bitola Municipal Council, asking for details about which municipal bodies and enterprises are depositors at Alta Bank, when they became depositors, the extent of their exposure and what steps the municipality is taking. The request says it is backed by the council groups of Poinaku, SDSM, Levica and LDP and calls on citizens to be informed about public money.

Konjanovski rejected the request as populist and said it stokes fear and uncertainty among the public. He wrote on Facebook: "The Municipality of Bitola, as the founder of the public enterprises, follows the directions and information from the National Bank of North Macedonia. The fact that some of the enterprises have an account in Alta Bank by no means means that their functionality is jeopardized. In the coming days we will discuss at a session of the local economic-social council and, together with the members of that body, we will take action regarding any step that could be taken by the local government to provide additional protection of the interests of its citizens. I believe that very soon the entire case will have a conclusion."

Konjanovski also published the individual account balances he says are held at Alta Bank: Public Utility Company Vodovod — 427,993 denars; JPZUPPI (urban planning) — 3,400,000 denars; Komunalec — 76,228 denars; Parkinzi — 4,450,000 denars; Pazari — 4,530,948 denars; and Niskogradba — 495,000 denars. He said the municipal enterprises Zhaveni and Pelalink do not have accounts at Alta Bank.

Earlier this week ambulances reportedly intervened several times in front of Alta Bank in Bitola after the bank briefly reopened its teller windows for clients. Under rules imposed by the bank's temporary management, firms with accounts in Alta Bank cannot make payments to legal entities or individuals whose accounts are in other banks; only internal transfers between accounts inside Alta Bank and certain specified settlements are allowed.

The matter has also been raised at Skopje City Council, where SDSM councillor Katerina Canevska asked Mayor Orce Gjorgievski whether the city or any public institution under his authority holds accounts at Alta Bank A.D. Bitola. Gjorgievski replied briefly that no municipal public enterprise has an account there, while councillors from VMRO-DPMNE reacted with laughter and objections during the exchange.

Photo: SDK.MK)