Skopje, 12 December 2024 (MIA) — In 2023, municipalities nationwide, the City of Skopje, and government ministries spent altogether around 2 million euros on attorneys, according to a Center for Civic Communications survey on legal fees paid by the state's municipalities and ministries.

The municipalities and the City of Skopje paid Mden 67,269,053 (EUR 1.1 million) for legal services, and government ministries paid Mden 62,428,934 (EUR 1 million). 

According to the survey, municipalities chose their attorneys based on their reputation, experience, availability and recommendations.

The survey also showed that 72 out of 81 municipalities had lawyers on retainer, and a quarter of them paid a monthly flat rate for their legal services.

Of all municipalities nationwide, the City of Skopje and Gazi Baba paid the most legal fees. Of the government ministries, the Ministry of Finance spent the most on legal services, followed by the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Labor.

The most money was paid to attorney Vlatko Ristovski. According to the CCC survey, the Municipality of Gazi Baba paid Ristovski over 6 million denars in 2023.

Municipalities and ministries do not have official, written rules for keeping lawyers on retainer. The procurement of legal services is also excluded from the Law on Public Procurement, the CCC notes. mr/