Centar Municipality awards spark political dispute in North Macedonia

The Centar Municipality in North Macedonia is facing political tension following the presentation of jubilee awards marking the 50th anniversary of the municipality. Mayor Goran Gerasimovski presented the awards to several prominent figures, including professor Vasil Tupurkovski, composer Duke Bojadziev, and architect Miroslav Grchev, to recognize their contributions to the community.

Suzan Hasan, a member of the VMRO-DPMNE party, has accused the Mayor of using the Phoenix awards for personal PR and political promotion. Hasan alleged that the selection process bypassed the Municipal Council and that the criteria for winners were manipulated. She called for the release of full documentation regarding the decision-making process.

In response, the Centar Municipality dismissed the allegations as political maneuvering by VMRO-DPMNE. The municipality defended the recipients as individuals of high reputation and accused the opposition of attempting to turn a celebratory milestone into a platform for partisan attacks.