Protest Held in Skopje over Situation with Public Transport

Citizens of Suto Orizari municipality, high school and university students held a protest on Friday in front of the offices of the City of Skopje, expressing dissatisfaction from the state of public transport in the city.

Suto Orizari Mayor Kurto Dudus said that the citizens of Shuto Orizari municipality haven’t had access to public transportation for 730 days. According to him, it is racist, discriminatory, inhumane, and irresponsible that 40,000 citizens haven’t had access to public transport for two years now.

“Yesterday you said that it is unseemly for Skopje citizens to remain even one day without public transport due to the lack of fuel. Then what word would you use for the citizens of Shuto Orizari, who haven’t had access to public transport for 730 days. I would use the word racist. It is racist, discriminatory, inhumane, and irresponsible that for two years now, 40,000 citizens haven’t had access to public transport,” Dudus stressed.

Ss. Cyril and Methodius University Student Assembly president Aleksandar Nikolovski said that according to a survey of over 3,500 students, 85 percent of students waited more than 15 minutes for a bus, and 65 percent had to wait for more than 20 minutes over the past fortnight; and 95 percent of students are not satisfied with the public transportation services offered by the City of Skopje.

“The Student Assembly decided to join the protest because we believe that university and high school students must not suffer the consequences of personal, party, and political disputes. Therefore, we demand you stop abusing the well-being of students during their exam sessions,” Nikolovski added.

From the City of Skopje they issued a reaction, accusing that the protests are politically motivated.

“It is obvious that Dudus is trying to court VMRO-DPMNE in order to keep his position as Suto Orizari Mayor after the local election next year. Citizens of Suto Orizari need to be aware that they encounter public transport problems only because of the council members from VMRO-DPMNE who refuse to support any decision that can resolve these issues. It is utterly shameful for one to abuse a marginalised community, like the Romani people, for scoring minor political points,” they reacted from the Office of Skopje Mayor Danela Arsovska.

In meantime, private bus transporters informed that starting from Monday, they will put majority of their buses back in function.