Spasovski demands accounting for €5.53 million spent on Independence celebration

MP and SDSM parliamentary group coordinator Oliver Spasovski demanded a full accounting in Parliament for the roughly €5.53 million spent on events marking the 35th anniversary of the country's independence, and pressed for details about who provided an additional sum of around 40 million denars (over €600,000).

During the questions session Spasovski asked Deputy Minister of Finance Nikolche Jankulovski whether the shareholders' meeting of the joint-stock company State Lottery had held a session approving the use of 300 million denars from retained earnings to finance the celebration, and if so to publish the meeting date, the decision and the distribution details.

Spasovski also asked whether all applicable taxes related to organising and staging the celebration had been calculated, declared and paid, and requested the exact amount of tax paid, as well as the names of the company or companies that provided the additional roughly 40 million denars for the event.

"If all these data are made public, transparently, confirmed with documents, I think maybe things will be clarified and people will stop talking in public, speculating, guessing whether those were kickbacks, whether earmarked funds were spent and so on and so on," Spasovski said at the parliamentary session.

Ministry points to State Lottery and tax authority

In his reply, Deputy Finance Minister Nikolche Jankulovski said the public had already received answers through a press conference held by the management of the State Lottery and by the Government. He added that, should any suspicions of irregularities exist, the competent institutions could investigate.

On the State Lottery funds, Jankulovski said a decision was taken by the competent body within the joint-stock company following prior action based on a government conclusion. Regarding tax obligations, he described the matter as technical and within the remit of the Public Revenue Office (UJP), and announced that a written response would be provided. On the question about companies that supplied extra funds, Jankulovski said that question should be addressed to the State Lottery.

Spasovski expressed dissatisfaction with the answers, saying the Ministry of Finance should hold the information and present it to Parliament. He requested that written data be provided showing which companies donated or sponsored funds, the amounts they contributed and the legal basis for those payments.

Separately, the Anti-Corruption Commission has opened a case regarding a conflict of interest involving one person in connection with the 35th anniversary celebration. "Every circumstance is being analysed from a criminal-legal aspect," Saveski said about the financing of the 35-year independence celebration.

Photo: MIA