After a long time, the former mayor of Skopje, Risto Penov, appeared in public. In an interview with “Lokalno” he talks about his term as the first man of the city and that he passes most of his term without help from the central government.

High electricity bills are the biggest reason why municipalities are asking for assistance from the government. In what form do you think this support should be and where should it be most directed?

High energy prices will eat up a large part of the budgets of the municipalities, especially the smaller ones. The municipalities are already receiving some form of assistance through the price of electricity paid by the kindergartens, which is at the level paid by the households. Further assistance should be sought in applying the beneficial price to both schools and cultural institutions, and possibly street lighting, said Penov.