Trajko Slaveski apologises: he did not mean Macedonian media when he said “the media brought Alta Bank down”
Slaveski said his remark referred to speculation in Serbian media and apologised to Macedonian journalists after backlash.
National Bank Governor Trajko Slaveski published an apology on the social platform X on November 3, 2026, saying that when he stated on television that "the media brought Alta Bank down" he had not meant Macedonian media.
Slaveski's clarification follows remarks he made during a live segment on the TV program "Top Tema," where he discussed developments surrounding Alta Bank AD Bitola and compared reporting in Serbia that preceded the Serbian National Bank's decision to revoke the lender's licence.
Clarification and apology
In the post on his X account Slaveski explained that his reference to media coverage concerned “the many speculations and unverified information that circulated in the media space in Serbia in the days before the decision of the NBS to revoke the bank's licence.” He added that he did not intend to call into question the professionalism of domestic journalists.
Slaveski wrote that he had received reports suggesting his words were directed at Macedonian outlets and sought to correct that impression: "I want to clarify that in that part of the show I was talking about events related to ‘Alta banka’ in Serbia and about publications in the local media concerning the outflow of funds from the bank. At no time did I mean Alta banka AD Bitola, nor did I want to question the professionalism of Macedonian media. That was the intent of my answer."
The governor also apologised directly to journalists in North Macedonia: "If by my formulation, even unintentionally, I offended someone from the journalistic profession, I sincerely apologise. That was in no way my intention."
Separately, Slaveski again criticised opposition SDSM, saying the party's press conferences had contributed to distrust and additional pressure at home. He noted that, in the context of that pressure, the National Bank introduced a protective measure limiting cash withdrawals and card payments by individual clients of the bank to a weekly ceiling of 10,000 denars.
The controversy comes as SDSM leader Venko Filipche urged Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and Governor Slaveski to answer questions about Alta Bank's entry into the Macedonian market and warned that, if they do not, the party will ask the Prosecutor's Office to investigate and will submit an interpellation against the governor.
— Trajko Slaveski (@TSlaveski) November 3, 2026
Photo: Printskrin
