VMRO‑DPMNE: Alta Bank had no ban on operating in the EU
VMRO‑DPMNE says documents show no legal obstacles to Alta Bank's entry to the North Macedonian market and urges prosecutors to investigate SDSM and Venko Filipche.
The ruling party VMRO‑DPMNE rejected accusations by SDSM and its leader Venko Filipche that Alta Bank was banned from operating in the European Union or sanctioned by the European Central Bank, saying documents show no legal obstacle to the bank's entry into North Macedonia.
What documents do they cite?
VMRO‑DPMNE pointed to a request filed in October 2023, during the previous SDSM–DUI government, when then‑Finance Minister Fatmir Besimi asked the State Attorney's Office for permission to establish business relations with Alta Bank from Serbia, which the party says is owned by Davor Macura. The request was considered at the 194th session of the Government, chaired by Dimitar Kovachevski, the party noted.
The party also referred to information published on the Vienna website of Adiko Bank showing that Alta Bank Belgrade held 9.63 percent of the Austrian bank's shares. VMRO‑DPMNE added that Alta Bank had an agreement with Raiffeisen Bank Vienna tied to a planned takeover of Adiko and transfer of its regional branches.
According to the party, that cooperation ended after Alta Bank lost its licence in Serbia, at which point Raiffeisen adopted a new decision.
VMRO‑DPMNE accused SDSM and Venko Filipche of manufacturing political narratives and creating panic intended to undermine confidence in the financial system, and urged the Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate what it called suspicions of spreading falsehoods and to initiate proceedings against SDSM president Venko Filipche.
Photo: press material from the event
