The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has strongly criticized the current government, accusing it of prioritizing salary increases for officials while citizens grapple with rising inflation and economic hardship. Spokesperson Bogdanka Kuzeska asserted that this decision demonstrates a disconnect between the government’s priorities and the needs of the people.

Kuzeska pointed to the latest data from the State Statistical Office, which indicates that annual inflation in May has risen to 3.3%, with a monthly increase of 1.5%. She emphasized that this signifies a worsening economic situation for citizens, making everyday life more expensive and challenging. She went on to describe the current government’s economic policies as a “total debacle.”

According to Kuzeska, instead of implementing measures to safeguard the living standards of citizens, such as increasing workers’ salaries or raising the minimum wage, the government has chosen to increase the salaries of officials. She highlighted a specific increase of 200 euros for government officials, accusing the government of breaking a promise made by its leader not to raise official salaries.

Kuzeska stated that SDSM is publicly demanding immediate action from the government, urging them to implement tangible measures to protect the purchasing power of citizens and refrain from increasing the salaries of officials. She stressed the importance of addressing the economic struggles faced by ordinary citizens rather than focusing on the financial gain of government personnel.