Opposition presidential candidate Gordana Siljanovska raised the issue of unlawful construction in what should be the heavily protected area of the Matka canyon west of Skopje during her visit to the area and meetings with supporters.

City of Skopje authorities and the local Saraj municipality gave up on tacking the issue as new floating restaurants are being built in the popular tourist retreat.

This is a crime against nature and against democracy and democratic principles. The municipalities are not states within the state – they are not given to local sheriffs to plunder them at the expense of the citizens. If we love Macedonia we love Matka, and we need to preserve them together, Siljanovska said.