Skopje, 25 December 2025 (MIA) - During Thursday’s Q&A session in Parliament, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, responding to a question from opposition SDSM leader Venko Filipche regarding the electricity price increase, emphasized that in the past period they have constantly manipulated the public with figures claiming a price rise of over five percent, over ten percent, yet the real increase was just above two percent.

“This question might be best answered by the new member of your Executive Committee, Mr. Bislimoski, who is the brother of the Chairman of the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC), Marko Bislimoski. The ERC, by law and by the Constitution, is an independent body. I don’t know why you are asking me this question; I assume you should ask Marko Bislimoski, whose brother is now a member of SDSM’s Executive Committee and I hope he will give you a more precise answer than I can. As for why the public was manipulated with claims of price increases over five percent, then over ten percent, while the actual increase was just over two percent, I assume they can also answer that,” Mickoski replied to Filipche, who also asked why the government had not taken action over the past year and a half to strengthen the energy sector.

Mickoski noted that in the past year and a half, more than 50 persons who damaged assets left by the previous VMRO-DPMNE government, during which he served as ELEM director, are either under investigation or subject to court proceedings, and a former director and senior former SDSM official is currently at large.

“If he is innocent and honorable, he will come here to face the authorities, give a statement, and explain the reasons. When discussing energy capacities, are you referring to companies that in the past received exclusive rights to import coal, for which certain public figures and politicians were rewarded with luxury vehicles, driven under the companies’ authorization, with funds transferred abroad? Or are you referring to the purchase of chemicals and other unnecessary materials, with commissions distributed to senior former SDSM officials in the Vardar and Pelagonia regions? Is this what you mean by the destruction of the energy system?” Mickoski stated.

Mickoski said that in August 2017, AD ELEM had no debts, €25 million in deposits, and approximately Mden 380 million in its account, with all salaries paid. By August 2024, the electricity accumulation is at 7 percent, no coal has been extracted at REK Bitola, there are about 20–30 thousand tons in the depot, the blocks at REK Bitola and Oslomej remain unrepaired, creating a catastrophic situation with debts exceeding €150 million.

He also referred to SDSM’s anti-corruption platform, noting that it only further shows citizens why they have continuously lost elections seven times in a row and why they will lose again on Jan. 11.

“And I tell you, at the next parliamentary elections, a debacle will happen to you, and you will lose again if you continue like this,” Mickoski emphasized.

Photo: screenshot