Skopje, 21 August 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski stated that, according to a projection that will not endanger the budget’s liquidity, companies have received a fair proposal for the return of the solidarity tax introduced by the former government, later annulled by the Constitutional Court. Companies have been offered a proposal for the solidarity tax to be repaid in two installments – in March 2026 and March 2027. If legal entities do not agree, another suitable model will be considered with multiple installments (up to five) starting from March 2026.

Answering a reporter’s question on Thursday, Mickoski stated that there are companies that agree to different terms and that opinions are mixed. He regretted that “due to the legislation and the current composition of the Judicial Council and the Prosecutor’s Office, those who maliciously spent the people’s money are not held responsible.”

“Yes, in the past period talks took place and meetings were held with many of the companies. Despite the fact that at the time, from the opposition, most of the public appealed not to behave so violently as the previous government did, in an unconstitutional and unlawful manner, they ignored it. I regret that our legislation and the current composition of the Judicial Council and the Prosecutor’s Office do not hold anyone accountable. After all, these are public funds, your money, and you will have to repay the money that someone has spent illegally and unconstitutionally,” Mickoski said.

We made, Mickoski added, a projection in a way that would not endanger the liquidity of the budget, and I believe the offer given is fair.

“There are companies that agree to different terms and that opinions are mixed. But overall, the situation is such that what the previous SDSM and DUI government did unlawfully and unconstitutionally, this government will have to return. I regret that those who did it are not held accountable before the law, because they recklessly wasted public money,” Mickoski said.

According to Minister Gordana Dimitrieska Kochoska, the Ministry of Finance is following the Government’s instructions in addressing the issue concerning companies that paid funds under the Law on Solidarity Tax.

Companies have been offered a proposal for the solidarity tax to be repaid in two installments – in March 2026 and March 2027. If legal entities do not agree, another suitable model will be considered with multiple installments (up to five) starting from March 2026.

At present, companies are submitting their responses. The Ministry will examine them and report the outcomes to the Government, in order to begin the process of returning the funds, Dimitrieska Kochoska wrote on Facebook.

During 2023, 156 companies made payments exceeding Mden 3 billion based on the Law on Solidarity Tax, which was annulled by the Constitutional Court on February 5, 2025.

The Constitutional Court ruled that the law fails to ensure legal certainty for affected entities. By revisiting previously settled matters, it creates legal uncertainty for taxpayers and infringes upon the rule of law and the constitutionally protected right to property, which cannot be taken or limited.

“According to the content of Article 2 of the Law, the reasons for introducing the tax are unpredictable and unfavorable economic circumstances in the country, which, according to the Court, are unclear criteria. In the same provision, as a “justification” for the solidarity, it is explained that the Law is based on the principles of fairness, equality, and proportionality, according to which everyone is obliged to participate in covering public expenditures in line with their economic capacity,” the Constitutional Court stated.

Photo: MIA archive, screenshot