Skopje, 17 March 2026 (MIA) – SDSM leader Venko Filipche said Tuesday that a set of laws will be forwarded to Parliament to allow the citizens to more easily weather the crisis following the latest developments in the Middle East. He announced that SDSM MPs will propose a law reducing VAT rate from 18 to 5 percent for fuel, law reducing excise tax by four denars, law scrapping VAT for basic food products and law halving pay toll prices in the country.

“The government has to react and it has to endorse these laws because the people won’t be able to feed themselves because of the crisis,” Filipche told a news conference Tuesday.

Fuel prices have gone up again, he said. “This is the second time fuel prices are skyrocketing and the government is doing nothing to protect the citizens’ standard. Nothing has been announced about measures to be put in place during this difficult crisis to help the citizens,” Filipche said warning that the latest rise in fuel prices may lead to an increase in food and electricity prices.

Speaking about the country’s EU integration process, the opposition leader that the process is fully blocked without any progress being made.

Filipche announced that in May, two “serious political activities will take place to bust VMRO’s fake patriotic policies.”

The first one involves the formation of a Skopje initiative – a regional initiative uniting several parties from surrounding countries, including Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Albania, aimed at forming a joint front for EU integration, fight against corruption and fight against authoritarian regimes

The second involves a party congress where the foundations of SDSM’s program for the coming parliamentary election will be revealed. Filipche said his party is confident that early elections will take place.

“At the congress, we will reveal our pro-European platform and all pro-European parties will be invited to join because we have to put an end to the deadlock created by the prime minister and the government,” he stated.

Asked whether a deal has been made with VMRO-DPMNE, Filipche insisted he has made “a deal only with the party members to fight for European Macedonia.”

The SDSM leader noted that EU Commissioner Marta Kos issued a clear warning that there is no place for new members under the influence of Russia and that Europe doesn’t want Trojan horses.

“It’s a strong message. The European Parliament report notes no progress in key areas, including rule of law, judiciary reforms, fight against corruption and crime. Media freedom is not possible when a large portion of media outlets are owned by people close to Hungarian premier Orban,” said Filipche.

Photo: screenshot