LSDM Files Interpellation Against Agriculture Minister Over European Fund Concerns
The LSDM opposition party has formally submitted an interpellation to Parliament targeting Minister of Agriculture, Cvetan Tripunovski, citing concerns regarding potential corruption within the ministry’s operations. The allegations center around the utilization of European funds, specifically the IPARD program, and the arrest of senior officials implicated in accepting bribes. The LSDM party asserts that the situation represents a “mega-corrupt scandal” with significant repercussions at the European Union level.
They point to the suspension of €128 million in European funds intended for agriculture, a reversal of fortune for North Macedonia, previously recognized as a leader in European fund absorption. Specifically, the party highlights reductions in tobacco subsidies – from 100 to 80 denars – and grape grower subsidies – decreasing from 12,000 to 8,000 denars. Furthermore, they criticize the minister’s decision to cancel advance subsidy payments, impacting approximately 60,000 farmers.
Lupço Nikollovski of the LSDM stated, “This situation represents a major challenge for the ministry of agriculture and requires immediate investigation.” The interpellation seeks to hold the minister accountable for the management of European agricultural funds and address the concerns surrounding potential mismanagement and its impact on the sector.
Topics: #minister #agriculture #european
This latest move highlights serious questions about transparency and accountability within the Ministry of Agriculture.