SDSM: Mickoski Presents Economic Growth Figures in a Manipulated Manner

SDSM accuses Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski of making inaccurate comparisons in the economy by pitting 23 months of government against 84 months. According to the party, he compares July 2022—the period when global inflation peaked due to the war, the energy crisis and rising food prices worldwide—with July 2026.

“This is not an achievement of his government, but a comparison with the most difficult month of the global crisis. He divides wages and pensions by month, lowers the percentages and then claims that these figures cannot be falsified. But that is possible.”

SDSM says Mickoski’s analysis is based on selecting a specific period and failing to present the absolute values. “Citizens do not live on a 70% increase on paper, but on the money left to them after bills, rent and the consumer basket. Fuel costs 100 denars, peppers cost 40 denars, food prices in stores continue to rise, factories are closing and investment has fallen. Growth in the last quarter was 0.3%.”

The opposition party goes on to say that the data are the same, but are not included in the prime minister’s presentation. “Debt is presented as having fallen, while the state has incurred 2.5 billion in debt over two years. The budget is said to be in good condition, even though a new loan is taken out every week. Pensions are presented as having increased 325% faster, while the nationalization of the second pillar is being prepared. Mickoski says he cannot conduct a politics of emotions. That is true. Then he should stop conducting a policy based on fabricated statistics. If citizens’ situation has improved, it will be visible in the refrigerator and in the wallet. Both are empty.”

SDSM is calling for the publication of a comparison based on official data from the Institute, rather than on a “personal analysis.” “Let him show how much the consumer basket costs today and how much it cost when it arrived. Let him explain why the farmer is struggling for 40 denars while he lectures about growth. Until then, these remain figures for television, not for the dinner table,” SDSM said.