Macedonia's Agriculture Minister Tripunovski faces interpellation over subsidies and corruption

Opposition members of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) demanded political responsibility from Agriculture Minister Cvetan Tripunovski during a parliamentary interpellation. They accused him of failing to deliver promised subsidies, of overseeing a sector in crisis, and of presiding over multiple corruption scandals, including the arrest of two senior directors for accepting bribes.

SDSM deputies highlighted that €128 million in EU‑funded projects have been blocked and that around €130 million in planned investments are now uncertain. They also pointed to delayed payments to farmers, a reduction in tobacco subsidies from 100 to 80 denar per kilogram, and a sharp drop in milk purchase prices from 34 to 24 denar per litre.

Prime Minister Christian Mitskoski voted against the interpellation, which SDSM described as a political move protecting the minister. The opposition complained that the ruling coalition’s support prevented accountability and left farmers across the country without the financial assistance they were promised.