Macedonia is facing a serious problem in terms of demographics, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski believes. In 20-25 years, he estimates, maybe 150,000-250,000 people will be missing from the state, and someone will have to fill that empty space. Therefore, according to him, we must think about the future.
– Analyzes should be made and thinking several decades in advance in order for potential young people to stay and contribute to the Macedonian economy. Absolutely, the time will come, maybe not now, but in 15, 20, 25 years, to completely change the demographic picture in Macedonia. I appreciate that from today’s perspective, in 15, 20, 25 years maybe 150-250 thousand people will be missing in Macedonia. Where is the problem? It is one chain. If Europe has a problem with demographics, and it has a bigger one than ours, then part of our potential goes there. Regardless of their further development as personalities and as people etc., they create an empty space here. In order for this economy to develop, someone will have to fill that, and it is logical from third countries, people, workers, to come and fill that empty space that will be left by those who will go to Western Europe. So, if in Western Europe the demographic picture improves and we enter a state of 2.1 fertility, then the potential young people will stay here and contribute to the Macedonian economy – emphasizes Mickoski in the “Where’s the Money” podcast.
He also emphasized that despite the fact that this is a very important topic for the further development of the state, when he talks about family and demography, he is often ridiculed and insulted by, as he said, certain structures, which are the sediment of society, but when running a state and wanting to leave a mark, one must think and analyze in the long term.
– When I talk about family, when I talk about demographics, there are certain structures in society, I call them the dregs of society, who make fun of me, insult me, write badly about me, etc., but that, simply, is the future. If today you don’t think about what will happen in 50, 75, 100 years, you shouldn’t be doing this job, look for another job, a day-to-day job and do it. If you already lead the country, you lead the Government, you have to analyze all aspects several decades in advance if you want to be a person who will leave a mark. If you want to be mediocre in politics, and unfortunately, there were many in our country, then we will get to this situation – stressed Mickoski.
