Survey: Macedonians against "Skopje 2014"

According to the results of the poll, 54 per cent of respondents said either that they do not support the project at all or that they are generally against it. 46 percent expressed largely or entirely positive opinions of the plan.

The majority of Skopje residents also said that they are against the project, local Dnevnik daily said, noting that this is only a small sample of a larger survey that they will publish soon.

Dnevnik commissioned the telephone poll, which was conducted by the agency Rating. The poll was completed in March on a representative sample of 1080 respondents, the daily said.

Public reaction ranged from exaltation to resentful disbelief, when in early February the authorities revealed the video animation footage of the ongoing state-funded project to revamp the Skopje downtown area.

Dubbed “Vision of Skopje 2014”, the extensive showcase portrays the capital’s centre covered in elaborate bronze monuments, arches, obelisks, cascading fountains, new bridges, and buildings with wide domes depicting a blend of classical and baroque architecture.

Many opposed the idea, including the association of architects of Macedonia, arguing that the plan does not reflect modern design and that it is too expensive for a small country trying to tackle many economic challenges.