Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of North Macedonia, demanding justice for the 59 lives lost in a nightclub fire in the town of Kočani.
The fire, which occurred on March 16 at the Pulse nightclub, also left over 150 people injured. Demonstrators marched past government offices and parliament in the capital, Skopje, late on Monday, expressing their anger at the tragedy and applauding medical staff for their efforts. Some protesters carried a banner that read, “The system is next.”
The fire broke out during a pyrotechnics display at the nightclub, which was later found to have multiple safety violations. A corruption investigation into the incident has led to the arrest of 13 individuals, including a former finance minister and seven senior police officers. Authorities are examining allegations of bribery and whether the nightclub’s operating permits were illegally obtained.
State prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski stated that the fire resulted from a “chain of omissions and illegal actions by officials.” In response to the tragedy, authorities have shut down dozens of nightclubs and entertainment venues across the country. Government spokesperson Marija Miteva revealed that only 22 out of 50 inspected establishments had valid licenses.
The protests reflect growing frustration with the government’s handling of the disaster. The opposition Social Democrats have called for the resignation of Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski, a member of the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski acknowledged the public’s anger but accused political opponents of exploiting the situation for their own gain, calling them “political vultures.”
Protests have also spread beyond North Macedonia. In Thessaloniki, Greece, dozens of people held a silent vigil, holding black balloons and placards, one of which read, “Their profits, our lives.”
The fire’s survivors, many with severe burns and smoke inhalation injuries, are being treated in hospitals across Greece, with 12 currently in civilian and military hospitals. North Macedonia’s health ministry also reported that 115 injured victims are receiving treatment in countries including Belgium, Hungary, Lithuania, and Spain.
In response to the tragedy, the government declared a seven-day period of national mourning to honor the victims.
