Skopje municipal anniversaries and political dispute

The Skopje municipalities of Centar and Gazi Baba are celebrating 50 years of existence. In Centar, Mayor Goran Gerasimovski highlighted the municipality’s evolution into a modern urban core, focusing on education, infrastructure, and green energy. The anniversary included visits from delegations from Belgrade and Sarajevo to discuss regional cooperation in culture, sports, and urbanism.

Centar also held a formal ceremony to present the “Phoenix” awards, recognizing individuals for significant contributions to social, cultural, sporting, and public life. Recipients included Vasil Tupurkovski, Zoran Mihajlov, Miroslav Grchev, Magdalena Rizova Chernih, Gjockica Lukarevski, Duke Bojadziev, Dr. Marija Vesova, and Todor Tasevski. During the ceremony, Mayor Gerasimovski expressed gratitude to citizens and local institutions, emphasizing the importance of preserving legacy while creating value for future generations.

However, the awards have sparked political tension. Suzan Hasan, a member of the VMRO-DPMNE party, has accused the Mayor of using the Phoenix awards for “personal PR and political promotion.” Hasan alleged that the selection process bypassed the Municipal Council and that the criteria for winners were manipulated, calling for the release of full documentation regarding the decision-making process. The VMRO-DPMNE party further claimed that the selection process was altered to include individuals not selected by the initial commission while omitting others who were recommended. They also alleged that municipal funds are being used for personal promotion due to a lack of real municipal projects.

The Centar Municipality dismissed these allegations as “political maneuvering by VMRO-DPMNE.” The administration defended the recipients as individuals of high reputation and accused the opposition of attempting to turn a celebratory milestone into a platform for partisan attacks.

In Gazi Baba, Mayor Boban Stefkovski led celebrations through a formal council session and academy. The event emphasized prioritizing public interest and infrastructure and included the recognition of 55 students who received municipal scholarships.