"I have not met Nikola Gruevski in Budapest, but if I do, you will be informed because I am pursuing a policy based on truth. Believe me, when something happens, I say it and I have nothing to hide, but also for the sake of this truth, I can confirm, and very soon with evidence, that a large number of officials of the former government coalition SDSM and DSI met with Nikola Gruevski in Budapest and did not give an honest answer," Mickoski said in the Municipality of Ilinden.

On the Hungarian loan of half a billion euros, 

Mickoski claims that with the Hungarian funds the country's debt was reduced by 3 percent.

"One billion euros arrived from Hungary and out of this one billion, 500 million euros were used to repay a debt, a bond, that was drawn in 2018. Today, if you look at the state of the state's debt, you will see that it is 58.2 percent and it has been reduced by more than 3 percent. That is how this government works, efficiently and responsibly. Out of the remaining €500 million, €250 million has been invested in projects across the country and €250 million in businesses, but I am sorry to say that the interest so far is for €380 million," Mickoski added.

BGNES recalls that on paper the loan funds come from Budapest. In fact, the money is part of the EUR 1 billion lent to Hungary by a consortium of Chinese banks in 2024.

 "Orban's Fidesz and Mitkoski's VMRO-DPMNE are allies. Hungary has for years been harbouring Mickoski's political father, Nikola Gruevski, a former Macedonian prime minister and DPMNE leader sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act who ruled the Republic of Macedonia single-handedly for 10 years. | BGNES