Skopje, 16 September 2025 (MIA) - Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski on Tuesday called for legislative amendments that would classify arson as terrorism.

"Within the framework of the parliamentary procedure, I discussed it with the coordinator of the VMRO-DPMNE parliamentary group that urgent amendments are needed to the laws that would classify arson as an act of terrorism, and dumping waste where it does not belong would be another criminal offense punishable by imprisonment of more than five years," Mickoski said in response to reporters' questions during Tuesday's visit to Jegunovce Municipality. 

The PM said the Ministry of Environment sent a letter on Monday to all municipalities calling for urgent measures to clean up illegal landfills and dispose of waste where it belongs.

"I also call on the unscrupulous citizens who create these illegal landfills to stop creating them, because all those who are caught dumping waste will be severely punished," Mickoski said.

Previously, the PM said about 20 individuals have been identified of being behind the fires, noting that there are power centres that want to instil fear and panic among citizens ahead of the elections.