[REVISION HISTORY]

North Macedonia political and Alta Bank crisis intensifies

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What changed

2026-11-06 08:19 UTC → 2026-11-07 11:59 UTC · added ~~removed~~

North Macedonia political and ~~EU integration tensions rise~~ Alta Bank crisis intensifies

Political and economic tensions in North Macedonia have intensified through late 2026, characterized by accusations of foreign influence and institutional instability. The opposition SDSM has accused Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of attempting to trigger early elections by inciting interethnic tensions and obstructing EU integration to avoid prosecution by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office. SDSM leader Venko Filipce has called for early parliamentary elections, stating his party will not serve as an “alibi” for the government, while criticizing failures in healthcare, education, and support for pensioners. In response, Mickoski has labeled Filipce a “traitor,” while Filipce has accused Mickoski of maintaining a corrupt regime modeled after Serbia’s Progressive Party, specifically alleging systemic corruption in the energy sector. VMRO-DPMNE has dismissed these claims, calling Filipce a “pathological liar.” integration. In late October, VMRO-DPMNE officials ~~further~~ alleged that former SDSM ~~leaders~~ leaders, including Zoran Zaev and Venko Filipce, maintained ~~overly~~ close ~~relationships with~~ ties to Serbian President Aleksandar ~~Vučić,~~ Vučić and ~~former SDSM member Andrej Petrov raised allegations of irregularities regarding Filipce’s election as~~ the Serbian Progressive Party. Specifically, party ~~president, claiming deceased members~~ spokesperson Valentin Manasievski claimed that Zaev and Filipce integrated Serbian advisors into the Macedonian government and suggested that companies linked to these individuals may have ~~been recorded as having voted.~~ received lucrative energy sector contracts. By early November 2026, the conflict expanded into ~~the financial sector regarding~~ a severe banking crisis involving Alta Bank. ~~SDSM leader Venko Filipce called for~~ Following the ~~resignation~~ revocation of its license in Serbia, the National Bank of North Macedonia placed Alta Bank AD Bitola under temporary administration. Criminal investigations were launched against former Chairman of the Board Davor Macura, who is alleged to have misappropriated approximately 390 million euros through fictitious transactions via the “Alta Pay” service. The crisis has deepened political divisions. SDSM accused Mickoski and National Bank Governor Trajko ~~Slaveski, alleging a failure to vet~~ Slaveski of facilitating the ~~bank’s~~ entry of a bank with questionable capital and ~~ownership. VMRO-DPMNE has since demanded an urgent oversight hearing to address public concerns, while accusing~~ alleged that Mickoski directly influenced the ~~SDSM~~ process despite international regulatory actions against the Alta Group. Mickoski has denied allegations of ~~attempting to create an artificial crisis to facilitate~~ sabotage, maintaining that the bank is a ~~cheap takeover by interests close to~~ healthy entity and that the ~~opposition. Amidst these tensions, Alta Bank Bitola~~ government is seeking a buyer to protect depositors. Conversely, VMRO-DPMNE has ~~commenced cash payouts~~ called for the Prosecutor’s Office to ~~pensioners~~ investigate the SDSM for allegedly spreading panic and ~~social aid recipients under specific withdrawal limits. The National Bank stated these measures aim to maintain liquidity, while Finance Minister Gordana Kocovska noted that issues stem from~~ undermining trust in the ~~bank’s Serbian parent company.~~ banking system.

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