Skopje, 13 November 2025 (MIA) — In response to reporters' questions on judicial reforms, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Friday he did not approve of giving raises to judges and prosecutors "who have no rating."

"The reforms in the judiciary are about higher paychecks," he told the press. 

"Through changing six laws, the main reform is to increase their paychecks. Next year we need to repay EUR 2 billion, which someone else incurred and put us and our unborn children into debt," Mickoski said.

He said the national budget was EUR 6.5 billion "and we need to repay a debt of EUR 2 billion incurred by someone with evil intentions." 

"I call on the public to say: Should judges and prosecutors get raises? Here, I will donate my own paycheck, but at least let them judge according to the law," the prime minister said. 

"My morals don't allow me to agree to increasing the paychecks of persons who have no rating. So if that's the key reform we need to do, forgive me, but I will not do it," Mickoski said.

Asked about chief prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski's dismissal, the PM said, "Just wait and see."

"We cannot direct more budget money to the independent financing of the Prosecutor's Office and the courts than, say, the most developed EU member states," he continued. 

"We cannot do that. So, these are the reforms. I want the public to know the reforms are about higher paychecks. The reforms are not about some sort of fundamental changes."

He said fundamental changes were about to be made to the Criminal Code, however. 

"We are doing that under pressure from the Constitutional Court," he said, adding that the proposed changes would be forwarded to Parliament by year's end, to prevent "collective amnesty across society and the release of all the criminals who are in prison."

Mickoski recalled that "the previous government amended the Criminal Code, making it possible for many to get political amnesty." He said the amendments had been adopted in "a smuggler's way" through an EU-flagged fast-track procedure.

"Everyone kept quiet at the time, everyone who is outspoken today," he said, bringing up critical comments about the EU's latest progress report on the country.

"Where were you at the time? 

"There was one bashful sentence in the report — they thought they would put pressure on VMRO-DPMNE this way, through some of its former structures, to change the Constitution.

"It didn't work," Mickoski said. 

"So it's VMRO-DPMNE's fault again. We have to call a spade a spade. And not fall for someone's spin. And we will do everything in our power to finish our homework," he said. 

"Let's see what happens afterward," he added.

The prime minister also said that even after changing the name, the country was in the same place where it had been 25 years ago.

"Great, let's change the Constitution and we will be the best. We will be the best," he said. 

"Even better, could we possibly stop being Macedonians? Let's be something else. We will be the best, bullied by someone who wants to stop Macedonia from progressing to the EU.

"We will not allow this. This government will not allow this, as long as I am in it. When someone else comes, it is up to them," Mickoski said. 

He was talking to the press after attending a cornerstone laying ceremony for a new gymnasium and classrooms at Blazhe Koneski Elementary. mr/

Photo and video: MIA