The mayor of Kriva Palanka, Saško Mitovski, has not said no to an antimony mine on the municipality's territory - but has set conditions that essentially mean: no guarantees, no mine. Mitovski demands a closed production system with no pollution of air, land or water, expert community involvement, and a bank guarantee for any potential environmental damage.

The context: SDSM is calling for a referendum to let Kriva Palanka citizens decide on the project, alleging that business interests connected to Prime Minister Mickoski stand behind the investment. VMRO-DPMNE and the central government, on the other hand, emphasise economic benefits - new jobs and revenue for a municipality with limited industrial development opportunities.

Mitovski occupies the middle ground: Kriva Palanka is a mining town - that is part of its identity and history. But that identity does not mean blindly accepting every investment. If the antimony deposit is truly one of the largest in the region, that is a serious development prospect. If the standards are not respected - no deal.

The question about the mine is, in fact, a question about who decides - the municipality, the citizens, or someone with business interests in Skopje. Mitovski insists on expert input and transparency. Whether he gets either - that is the real test.