Skopje, 10 September 2026 (MIA) – SDSM leader Venko Filipche claims Macedonia’s Independence Day celebration was financed with five million euros of taxpayers’ money through the Lottery of Macedonia state-owned joint-stock company, which, as he said, contradicts PM Hristijan Mickoski’s revelation that not a single denar was spent to organize the event. 

According to a decision of the government’s 167th session, Filipche told a news conference Thursday, funds were spent for the celebration through the Lottery of Macedonia, a company in complete state ownership.

“Since the company is owned by the state 100%, the company’s money are money of the citizens,” he said demanding the government that it should explain why the prime minister had insisted that no taxpayers’ money had been spent.

According to him, the procedure of selecting the event’s organizer had also raised eyebrows. Filipche claimed that the Lottery company had issued a public call instead of a tender. “This might have breached the Law on Sponsorships,” he said asking why only local companies had been asked to apply and which criteria had been applied to pick the company that organized the event. 

“Five million euros could have been used to improve healthcare system, agriculture, education and to raise pensions or the minimum wage,” the opposition leader said.

SDSM demands the government reveal the criteria, decisions and full documentation in relation to the spending of funds for the Independence Day event. 

Photo: SDSM