[REVISION HISTORY]

Macedonia water crisis, data centers and political disputes

Updated 25 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

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2026-09-04 07:57 UTC → 2026-09-05 09:47 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In late July 2026, severe water contamination was reported in seven Macedonian towns, including Gostivar and Prilep, with white foam observed in the Lepenec and Vardar rivers. The crisis sparked intense political disputes between the ruling VMRO-DPMNE and the opposition Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM). By mid-August, the conflict expanded to include rumors of E. coli contamination in Skopje, which authorities dismissed as a “hybrid attack” intended to incite social unrest. Simultaneously, the political debate shifted toward the government’s data center projects. While Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski argued these facilities are essential for digital infrastructure and economic growth, the SDSM and the DOM party raised concerns regarding water and energy security, potential electricity price increases, and noise pollution. By late August, Mickoski projected GDP growth of 3.5% to 4% despite these debates. In early September, the focus expanded to include corruption allegations within the Ministry of Digital Transformation. SDSM member Jon Frčkoski alleged that three contracts worth 1.5 million euros were awarded to ‘Noma Sistem Solutions’ in a conflict of interest involving the husband of the Ministry’s State Secretary. VMRO-DPMNE dismissed these claims as “baseless insinuations,” maintaining all procedures followed the law. By early September, the political friction intensified as the SDSM accused the government of driving the country toward a record public debt of nearly 12 billion euros, potentially reaching 65% of GDP by 2026. SDSM leaders, including Venko Filipche, questioned the legality of a 1.3 billion euro debt they claim was omitted from the budget rebalance. Meanwhile, SDSM MP Dimitar Kovachevski emphasized the need for a primary National Data Center in Skopje to centralize state hardware, distinguishing these state-serving needs from commercial infrastructure. On September 4, VMRO-DPMNE accused SDSM leader Venko Filipche of hindering national investment and job creation by opposing the data center industry.

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