Parliament rejects interpellation against Sanja Bozhinovska

Parliament voted down the interpellation against Minister of Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Sanja Bozhinovska with 19 in favor, 63 against and zero abstentions. The motion was filed by Levica and prompted a long debate over progress in the energy and mining sectors.

Opposition cites delays in reforms; ruling majority points to investments

Opposition MPs accused the minister of insufficient results, irregularities in office, erosion of the public interest and gross disregard for laws. The ruling majority defended her record, saying significant reforms and investments are underway.

Levica argued the country is lagging on measures needed to integrate the domestic energy market with the European market and to meet obligations under the EU carbon border adjustment mechanism. While acknowledging steps such as the opening of the intraday electricity market, the interpellation’s authors said a full framework to support renewable energy producers and help them compete in Europe is still missing.

SDSM MP Fatmir Bitici warned of what he called an "unusual energy paradox", saying that produced electricity is often worth more on the European market but regulatory and market barriers prevent local producers from accessing that value. He added that during intense solar production some photovoltaic output is bought at zero price and then resold to neighboring markets at significantly higher rates.

VMRO-DPMNE MP Bojan Stojanoski rejected key claims in the interpellation and listed recent achievements: "127 percent increase in concession revenues for mineral resources. After 13 years the oil pipeline with OKTA is functioning again and construction of new gas interconnections with Greece and Serbia has begun." He also said the wind park near Stip represents an investment of about one billion euros and will supply electricity to more than 100,000 households.

Other speakers pressed the minister on political responsibility and unkept promises. SDSM MP Jovan Mitreski said Bozhinovska should answer for alleged connections to companies that have faced proceedings and for unmet pledges such as abolishing the distribution fee, accelerating gasification and addressing the financial position of AD ESM.

Levica MP Sashko Yanchev focused his remarks on mining, warning that the ministry’s new minerals strategy could open the door to open-pit projects in the southeast and urged a minister who would say "stop" to such plans, arguing residents there remain opposed due to environmental and agricultural risks.

VMRO-DPMNE MP Silvana Angelevska said the interpellation blurred the responsibilities of the ministry with those of companies and the regulator, noting that "only in 2025, 42.3 million denars were paid in subsidies for vulnerable consumers and 170 million denars for subsidies for inverter air conditioners." She highlighted the new Energy Law aligned with EU standards, the first-time definition of energy poverty, and projects including the Bogdanci wind park, a cogeneration plant in Bitola, photovoltaic centers and hydropower revitalization.

Levica MP Borislav Krmov called for the minister’s resignation and cited audit findings about MEPSO, meter control and policies on opening mines: "If this Ministry has very few competences, my answer can be very short, Madam Minister, you can submit your resignation right now."

In reply, Minister Bozhinovska rejected the accusations and said many problems were inherited from previous governments. She defended her record: "I am working with all my capacity and I think that in two years I have built an institution from zero." She added that the audit of energy institutions was requested at the start of her mandate, that property-legal issues at MEPSO are being addressed and that "in two and a half years there has been no opened mine, 53 concessions have been revoked." She also said new legal measures will require 100 percent financial guarantees for remediation of mining projects.

Photo: press material from the event