Tag: merko
Macedonia 12.10.24 | 12:27

Struga Mayor Merko has more staff than the city of Bitola – they have nowhere to sit

Controversial DUI official and businessman Ramiz Merko, who is ending his term as Mayor of Struga next year, plans to hire 73 new staff in 2025. At the same time, the small lakeside city will see only 8 retire. This move will bring the total number of employees to 280 – more than the much larger...
Macedonia 28.06.24 | 18:49

New Government revokes DUI’s parting gift to one of its corrupt officials

In one of its first decisions, the newly elected Government determined that the Interior University of Struga, owned by controversial Mayor Ramiz Merko, will not be allowed to open a medical faculty. The outgoing DUI led Government allowed its high ranking official Merko to set up this potentially highly...
Macedonia 18.06.24 | 08:02

Accreditation Board revokes license of Ramiz Merko’s medical faculty

The Accreditation Board revoked the accreditation of the newly created medical faculty at the International University of Struga. The approval was given just days after the general elections, and caused outrage in the country. Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko is owner of the university and has been using his...
Macedonia 17.09.23 | 20:41

Education Minister Shaqiri protects his fellow party member Merko

Education Minister Yeton Shaqiri has no intention to deprive the Mayor of Struga Ramiz Merko from his authority in managing the education system, despite Merko’s frequent violations of the law. Merko illegally appointed several directors of elementary schools, and acknowledged that he violated...
Macedonia 04.07.23 | 21:19

Kasami calls on Ahmeti to resign and allow a full investigation into the corruption of his DUI party

BESA party leader Bilal Kasami called on DUI party leader Ali Ahmeti to resign along with the Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko, to allow the judiciary to do its work. Merko was placed on a US black list, which caused a stir in the key Albanian party, which has never faced Western scrutiny before. Ahmeti said...
Macedonia 26.06.23 | 17:03

PRO is inspecting the regional offices in Bitola and Struga on cases related to Struga mayor

The Public Prosecutor Office is conducting controls in the regional offices in Bitola and Struga, in relation with the cases against the Struga mayor Ramiz Merko. The US State Department put Merko and his family on the black list because of involvement in high corruption, abuse of funds, and interfering...
Economy 14.05.22 | 12:45

Powerful DUI official wants to change the recently adopted law that restricted work on Sundays

The powerful DUI party boss in Struga Ramiz Merko is apparently lobbying hard in his party to overturn the recently adopted law that makes Sunday a day off for most businesses. The law ground much of the economy to a halt on Sundays, with only large shopping malls and essential businesses still open....
Macedonia 31.10.21 | 21:27

DUI keeps Struga, opposition candidate Istrefi acknowledges defeat

The Mayor of Struga Ramiz Merko from DUI won re-election against the Albanian opposition candidate Idri Istrefi. Istrefi acknowledged defeat in the second round vote. We fought with all our energy, but obviously it was not enough to win in Struga. I want to express my gratitude to all supporters and...
Macedonia 23.10.21 | 16:11

Zaev goes to Struga to endorse the notorious local boss Ramiz Merko for another term

Zoran Zaev campaigned in Struga today, to support the DUI party mayoral candidate, incumbent Ramiz Merko. Zaev is desperate for the DUI votes in his race against VMRO-DPMNE in the capital Skopje, so he has to repay the favor by campaigning for the DUI candidates in contested races. The coalition...
Macedonia 18.10.21 | 00:25

Run-off in Struga between the DUI and Albanian opposition candidates

The mayoral race in Struga will go to a run-off between the incumbent Mayor Ramiz Merko from DUI and his main challenger, Idri Istrefi from the Alliance of Albanians and Alternative parties. Merko insists that he is in the lead by 2,000 votes. Istrefi replied that he will continue to seek the support...
Macedonia 14.06.21 | 13:17

Now that it’s a green party, DUI tries to rein in the Mayor of Struga

Struga Mayor Ramiz Merko announced that he will demolish six beach platforms and other structures that were built without permission. Merko largely resisted removing unregulated beach development, especially with the summer season beginning, but the Government is under growing pressure from the EU and...
Macedonia 19.07.19 | 14:05

Mayor Merko officially informs Zaev that issuing construction permits in Struga is his responsibility now

The city of Struga officially informed the Macedonian Government that Mayor Ramiz Merko is giving up his authority related to construction and development in the city. Merko initially informed that he is undertaking this unusual move due to death threats aimed at him, and now he says that he just wants...
Macedonia 18.07.19 | 18:28

Mayor Merko says he gives up on running the city of Struga after receiving a death threat

Ramiz Merko, the Mayor of Struga announced today that he is giving up on all his authority related to the management of the city because he received a death threat. Merko called on the Zaev Government to take over the management of the city and said that he has reported the death threat to the police....
Macedonia 12.07.19 | 15:19

Untouchables: Mayor Merko opens Nefi Useini’s illegally built restaurant

Ramiz Merko, the Mayor of Struga, personally came to Ohrid to open the unlawfully built pizza restaurant owned by his fellow DUI party official Nefi Useini. The opening of the restaurant built right next to the iconic Ohrid sycamore tree became a major issue in local politics, as it became apparent that...
Macedonia 21.01.19 | 16:21

Alliance of Albanians accuses top DUI official of running a fake university in Struga

The Alliance of Albanians, which is the leading challenger of the ruling DUI party, accused Struga mayor Ramiz Merko of running a fake university. According to Sela, the International private university in Struga, which he claims is run by Merko, is responsible for a series of violations. A year ago...

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