10. Real-Time Government Transparency: A Public Spending Dashboard for Macedonia

A Note to Our Readers

The Macedonian Citizens Alliance is an independent, non-partisan platform committed to giving citizens a real voice in ending corruption and shaping a just, transparent, and prosperous future for Macedonia. We are not in favour or against any political party. We will support any government or opposition initiative that challenges corruption and promotes integrity and progress, but we will also hold all parties, leaders, and institutions accountable - regardless of affiliation. Macedonia has had enough of division. If you believe that political leaders and public officials should serve the people with honesty and with citizens’ interests as a priority, then support us. Our role is to keep every party, every official, and every institution honest - so that together, we can rebuild trust and create a better country for all.

What if every citizen in Macedonia could see, at any time, where every denar of public money is going? What if corruption had nowhere to hide—not in backroom deals, not in vague budgets, not in friendly contracts? That vision is possible. And it begins with one powerful tool: a national public spending dashboard, updated in real time and accessible to all.

This isn’t a dream. It’s a necessity. Because until we can follow the money, we cannot fix the system.

The Problem: Public Money, Private Deals

Each year, billions of denars are spent by government ministries, municipalities, and public enterprises. Yet citizens have almost no way of knowing how much is being spent, on what, and with whom.

Budgets are often published in technical language, with little breakdown. Contracts are handed out behind closed doors. Payments are processed without scrutiny.

This lack of transparency creates a perfect storm for corruption, mismanagement, and theft.

The Solution: Real-Time, Real Data

A national public spending dashboard would allow any citizen—journalist, business owner, student—to monitor how public funds are being used. This dashboard would be:

• Publicly accessible, through a simple, user-friendly website.

• Updated daily or weekly, reflecting live financial data from all government departments.

• Broken down by ministry, municipality, and sector—so users can drill into specific areas.

• Linked to procurement data, showing who won contracts, how much was paid, and for what service or project.

• Searchable by keywords, dates, or regions, making investigation easy and accessible.

In short: radical transparency in action.

Benefits Beyond Anti-Corruption

While the dashboard is a tool to fight corruption, it’s also a way to improve governance overall. Citizens can track progress on local projects. NGOs can monitor spending on health, education, or the environment. Media outlets can identify red flags and expose irregularities early.

And just as importantly, officials will think twice before authorizing suspicious payments—because they know the public is watching.

Learning from Others

Countries like Ukraine, Estonia, and Chile have already implemented such platforms with great success. In Ukraine, the “ProZorro” system made all public procurement digital and transparent—saving billions and increasing public trust. Macedonia can do the same. The technology exists. The data exists. What’s missing is the political courage.

From Darkness to Daylight

This dashboard will be a symbol of a new Macedonia—one that says: We have nothing to hide. It will shift power from the few to the many, from corrupt insiders to engaged citizens. It will end the culture of secrecy that has allowed corruption to flourish for decades.

When the people can see how their money is being spent, they begin to reclaim ownership of their government.

Our Money, Our Right to Know

This is not radical. This is responsibility. The people of Macedonia fund the state through taxes. They deserve to know where that money is going. Every cent. Every contract. Every day.

Let the light in. Let the data flow. And let corruption finally run out of places to hide.

Michael Penevski

Co-Founder, Macedonian Citizens Alliance

Michael Penevski holds a Bachelor of Law degree and is an investment banker specializing in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. A long-standing critic of political impunity, he has been a vocal advocate for transparency, systemic reform, economic revitalization, and citizen-led governance. Born into a family grounded in Macedonian values, Michael co-founded the Macedonian Citizens Alliance to help build a nation that serves its people - not the privileged few.

Macedonian Citizens Alliance

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