In brief
In Skopje on February 26, Prime Minister Mickoski congratulated Serbia’s newly elected student‑movement government while opposition leader Filipce countered with allegations that the North Macedonian administration is tied to Serbia’s Aleksandar Vucic. The exchange highlighted growing regional tensions, with Filipce accusing the government of corruption and Vucic‑linked ties, claims that remain unverified.
In Skopje on February 26, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and opposition leader Venko Filipce heatedly traded remarks over the October 25 parliamentary results in neighboring Serbia.
According to a BTA report, Mickoski was among the first to congratulate Ilija Srdanovic, the student‑movement leader who won a surprising victory over the Serbian Progressive Party, and said his country and Serbia should “continue to work to increase economic cooperation.”
"I am among the first to congratulate Ilija Srdanovic…we should increase economic cooperation," said Mickoski.
Filipce, however, accused the Skopje administration of being linked to Aleksandar Vucic’s party and of engaging in corruption schemes, including alleged “energy‑sector corruption and drug trafficking,” a charge that the BTA report identifies as an allegation rather than a confirmed fact.
"Some people say we are celebrating foreign elections. No, we are celebrating the arrival of the wave of democracy…our regime is fueled by ties with Vucic…" – Filipce (BTA interview).
The Source also reported that Mickoski rebuffed the accusations, stating he had already received instructions from Vucic and was “accustomed to the insults, fabrications, and lies” directed at him by the opposition. No independent verification of the corruption claims has been provided.
VMRO‑DPMNE issued a statement indicating that the opposition’s rhetoric was an insult to the friendship that had characterized Serbian relations in the past. The dispute underscores ongoing political friction in the Balkans following Serbia’s unexpected electoral shift.
