Finance Ministry has no authority over banks’ share sales, Dimitrieska Koçoska says

Finance Minister Gordana Dimitrieska Koçoska said the institution she heads cannot interfere with the responsibilities of other institutions, particularly those of the National Bank of the Republic of North Macedonia (NBRNM).

She made the remarks while testifying today at an oversight hearing of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia’s Committee on Finance and Budget.

During the hearing, the minister answered questions from lawmakers Fatmir Bytyqi of SDSM, Dafina Stojanovska of VMRO-DPMNE, independent lawmaker Mile Cekov, Zeqirija Tairi of VLEN, and Vesna Bendevska of ZNAM.

Dimitrieska Koçoska outlined the sequence of events, beginning with the NBRNM’s preliminary approval, followed by the purchase of shares on the stock exchange and the announcement in the Official Gazette, and ending with the government’s review of whether any institution owns shares in “Stopanska Banka AD Bitola.” The conclusions call for considering whether to accept or reject the offer to buy the shares, while also respecting the ban on using state capital during elections.

Regarding the ministry’s responsibilities, she clarified that the Ministry of Finance has no jurisdiction over procedures for buying and selling shares. Oversight and supervision of these processes fall to the National Bank.