Macedonia demands 5 million euros for clean water amid contamination crisis

Seven Macedonian towns – Gostivar, Valandovo, Krushevo, Plesnica, Prilep, Leshok and Pregovo – are reported to have water that is not safe for drinking. White foam has been observed in the Lepenec and Vardar rivers, and the contamination has reached the capital, Skopje. Jon Frčkoski, a member of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) executive board, blamed Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and the criminal group VMRO‑OKG for a “systemic collapse” of institutions that left citizens without clean water. He demanded that the 5 million euros earmarked for the Independence Day celebrations – which include expensive singers and artists – be redirected to water infrastructure such as treatment plants, filtration stations, reservoirs and pipe renewal. Frčkoski cited the 167th parliamentary session on 28 April 2026, when the government ordered the State Lottery to allocate 300 000 000 denars (about €5 million) from an undistributed dividend for 2024 to fund the festivities. He also questioned the legality of appointing Avalon Production as the main partner for the musical events. The water crisis threatens additional communities that draw from the Studencica source, including Kičevo, Macedonian Brod and Dolneni.