Macedonia’s roads will remain subject to the highest toll fees in Europe, despite their poor condition, after a proposal by the Levica party to reduce these fees by 50% was voted down by members of parliament from VMRO-DPMNE, ZNAM, and VREDI, according to the Levica party.

Levica MP Rexhep Ismail argued that it’s unfair for MPs, who receive travel expense compensation, to deny similar consideration to workers who spend a significant portion of their income on tolls.

Borislav Krmov, coordinator of the Levica parliamentary group, explained that compensation for travel expenses was previously available to workers in Macedonia but was discontinued in 2008. He refuted claims that these expenses are now included in gross salaries, stating that this does not apply to the private sector where collective agreements and employment contracts often nullify this right.

Krmov cited Serbia as a regional example where employers are required to provide compensation or transportation for workers. Levica proposed a similar formula for calculating worker travel expenses, mirroring a previous proposal to rationalize MP travel expenses that was also rejected.

Levica held VMRO-DPMNE primarily responsible, noting that the party abolished worker travel expenses while in government and has since accrued record travel expenses for its MPs, costing the state 3,705,914 euros from 2010 to 2024. The party urged VMRO-DPMNE to consider the needs of ordinary workers, who constitute a large portion of the population and their voter base, but the parliamentary majority still rejected the proposal.