The leader of North Macedonia’s biggest opposition party VMRO-DPMNE, Hristijan Mickoski, said that the party may hold protests and block institutions, even leave the parliament, if the prosecution and court authorities fail to examine the so-called Extortion scandal thoroughly.
The scandal erupted in mid-July when two people, Bojan Jovanovski and Zoran Milevski, were detained for extorting money from businessman Orce Kamcev. Leaked audio recordings revealed by Italian daily La Verita showed the possible involvement of chief special prosecutor Katica Janeva in the scandal.
“The government will be surprised by our steps. We will take all democratic moves as opposition if necessary such as mass protests and the blockade of institutions,” said the VMRO DPMNE leader.
Mickoski said that the extortion case would not have happened without Social Democrat Prime Minister Zoran Zaev. Mickoski also reiterated calls for an early election.
Meanwhile Janeva confirmed that she has been called to give a statement as a witness in the Extortion case to a public prosecutor on August 20.
Macedonian President Stevo Pendarovski previously urged prosecutors to examine the ongoing scandal urgently, saying he was deeply disappointed about the revelations in the leaked audio recordings.
Related Articles
Orban’s new illiberal axis
Amid the furore over Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban’s visit to Tbilisi immediately after the allegedly stolen October 26 general election, a visit by the country’s President Tamas ... more
Green loans in North Macedonia's banking sector up 14.9% y/y in 2Q24
The growth of green loans in North Macedonia’s commercial banks continued in the second quarter of 2024, with an annual increase of 14.9% or by MKD2.6bn (€42.3mn), the central bank said on August ... more
North Macedonia’s Komercijalna Banka launches takeover bid for Stopanska Banka Bitola
North Macedonia's largest bank, Komercijalna banka, announced on August 26 that it has published the takeover bid for local Stopanska banka Bitola. The offered price is set at MKD3,200 (€52) per ... more