North Macedonia Finance Minister disputes opposition debt claims

North Macedonian Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska-Kochoška has dismissed opposition claims regarding a €1.3 billion increase in state debt as ‘funny mathematics.’ While she confirmed the government is considering issuing a new €1.3 billion eurobond to refinance existing debts and address a 3.5 percent budget deficit, she contested the opposition's assertion that public debt will reach 65 percent of GDP.

Addressing specific allegations, the Minister clarified that debts held by the Public Enterprise for State Roads are part of the national fiscal strategy but do not constitute central government debt and therefore do not appear in the central budget. She emphasized the Ministry's commitment to transparency in publishing financial data.

The political tension has escalated as the opposition party, VMRO-DPMNE, accused the ruling SDSM of indebting the country more than any previous administration. VMRO-DPMNE claimed that annual interest payments have tripled due to poor economic policies and noted that the current government has worked to stabilize the economy and reduce public debt compared to previous years.