Skopje, 6 June 2024 (MIA) — Prime Minister-designate Hristijan Mickoski said his new government would revise the national budget in the second half of July and, in its first hundred days, bring in an unprecedented new project in the energy sector and two new investments as well as expand two others; he also said they would reallocate funds from the central budget to municipal budgets and, in September, increase pensions.

He said the goal of the new government was "to implement projects of great importance to the citizens, such as new boulevards and streets, sewage systems — and 20 percent of the territory or the citizens' needs is not related to sewage — then drinking water where needed, new day care centers, new schools, parks, etc."

He said the VMRO-DPMNE-led government would aim "to reach at least 300 thousand households in this first term in office."

"That is 250 million euros annually reallocated funds from the budget to the municipalities. And after the budget revision in the second half of July, half of that amount will be reallocated. This is practically 125 million euros," Mickoski said.

He urged municipalities to submit project proposals so that "the money can be transferred immediately to a special account, and immediately tendered so we can catch the fall construction season as soon as we can."

Speaking to the press, he also said he would personally monitor the implementation of a project worth "one billion for the real needs of the citizens."

"The citizens voted for us. We need to pay them back," he said, also promising to increase the pensions in September and in March.

On the new investments, he said: "This has never happened in the region. I'm not talking about Macedonia."

"Expect two major foreign investments and the expansion of two already existing foreign investments here in Macedonia in the first hundred days. Expect many nice, positive things, something that the citizens expect," he continued.

"This will be my personal focus and my commitment and my inspiration as the first person working in the Government," he said.

The future prime minister said the potential coalition partners were inspired and full of courage as well.

"We want to work as one and dedicate ourselves completely to the citizens. We are public servants. Anyone thinking they are above the public will lose their footing," he said. 

"Believe me, I will deal with him or her personally, regardless of whether he or she comes from the ranks of VMRO-DPMNE and the Your Macedonia coalition or our potential coalition partners," Mickoski told reporters after being given the mandate to form a government at Villa Vodno. mr/