OBRM-PDUKM raises suspicions of BDI and LSDM business interests behind Alta Banka’s entry into North Macedonia

OBRM-PDUKM, the ruling party, is calling for a full investigation into the transactions and the role of former officials in Alta Banka’s entry into North Macedonia’s financial market. It says business interests linked to former governing partners LSDM and BDI are behind the process.

The party’s allegations focus on AS Senjak, a company from Kičevo owned by Selaudin Arifi, whom it identifies as a relative of Ali Ahmeti by marriage. According to the timeline set out in its statement, AS Senjak bought a substantial stake in Bitola Commercial Bank in October 2024.

OBRM-PDUKM says that in June 2025, a company linked to the same business circle received a loan of five million euros from Alta Banka in Belgrade. Three months later, on 17 September 2025, AS Senjak sold its shares in the Bitola bank to Serbian businessman Davor Macura and Alta Banka, according to the party. This, it claims, enabled them to take control of the bank, which was subsequently renamed Alta Banka Macedonia.

OBRM-PDUKM says the loan, the share sale and the takeover raise questions about possible links between these actions.

In its statement, the party describes the Alta Banka case as evidence of how LSDM and BDI, led by Ahmeti and the Zaev clan, governed. It claims that the state and its citizens were not their priority and that they focused instead on business schemes, non-transparent deals and individuals becoming wealthy overnight.

The ruling party also names former BDI officials Fatmir Besimi, Bujar Osmani and Artan Grubi in its allegations. According to OBRM-PDUKM, they actively supported Alta Banka’s entry into the country’s financial sector.