On Sunday, asked about the Bulgarian elections, PM Mickoski said he expected a clearly pro-European oriented PM to be elected. He pointed out that expected his future Bulgarian counterpart to focus more on good neighborly relations than on bilateral disputes. According to the PM, it is striking that only 250 citizens from North Macedonia registered to vote in the elections in Bulgaria.
Asked about SDSM’s demand for a local referendum over the antimony mine near Luke, he said that though the right to a referendum was constitutionally guaranteed, the mine was of strategic significance to the country and local community. Mickoski emphasized that the Kriva Palanka Mayor from SDSM’s ranks, Sashko Mitovski, supported the project that was part of cooperation with the U.S.
Regarding the fuel situation, he said that despite the reintroduction of the 18% VAT rate on diesel, he expected the price to fall.
Regarding gas, his stand is that there was no intervention because if the 18% rate is reintroduced, there will be an increase. He expects Monday (April 20) to see the ERC make a decision reducing the price of gas and diesel by 1.5 denars.