By Liridona Beqiri
The unbearable tragedies that have struck North Macedonia—such as the fire at the modular hospital in Tetovo and the devastating incident at the nightclub in Kočani, the deadliest tragedy in the country’s history—reveal a painful and heavy reality for the nation’s safety and emergency management systems.
This tragedy, this preventable loss of life, is the ultimate testament to the rot within our institutions. It is a wake-up call—a plea to rise, to demand long-overdue accountability, to ensure that no family is ever shattered again by the indifference of those in power. This is not merely a failure; it is a betrayal of the very foundation upon which our society stands. It exposes deeper systemic issues that extend beyond an isolated incident, reflecting a widespread lack of responsibility and accountability. A justice system intended to serve the people has become an instrument of oppression. What we face is systemic corruption actively eroding the core of justice. The judiciary is in a deep crisis and must be dismantled and rebuilt.
This was not just an accident. It was a tragedy born of years of institutional failure, government inaction, and an overwhelming disregard for human life. The nightclub where the fire broke out, illegally licensed, should have been subjected to regular inspections and compliance with safety regulations—basic standards that could have saved those lives. But these rules were ignored, safety protocols unenforced, and the responsible entities—government, local authorities, regulatory bodies—failed to act when it mattered most. This failure is the result of a broken system, one where the powerful are allowed to act with impunity, where corruption is rampant, and where institutions are more concerned with preserving their power than ensuring the safety and well-being of the people they are supposed to serve.
We must renew our commitment to transparency, accountability, and justice because these are the pillars on which true democracy is built. Citizens hope for a promised change to restore faith in institutions—though one wonders if they ever truly had it.
The government’s failures in responding to previous tragedies, coupled with the justice system’s inability to act decisively, have created a layered public anger. As this anger grows, the expectation is that it will erupt into widespread protests, civil disobedience, and calls for reform at all levels of governance. Politically, this tragedy exposes the incompetence, corruption, and negligence of the ruling parties. A government that cannot protect its citizens, especially its youth, is one that has lost its moral mandate to govern.
The ruling government urgently needs to reflect on itself, not take on the role of moral arbiters to deflect blame. If they fail to confront their failures head-on, they risk significant political instability. The Kočani tragedy could lead to a loss of political power and even the rise of populist movements promising immediate change. The broader region has recently witnessed significant political unrest and instability, and the tragedy in Kočani could fuel these wider geopolitical tensions.
The consequences will be felt far beyond this country’s borders. This disaster will ignite political turmoil that will shake not only North Macedonia but the entire Balkans. The political repercussions of this calamity are just beginning, and if the government does not act swiftly and decisively, this tragedy will not only mark the end of its legitimacy but also spark a fire of political unrest that will engulf the region. Failing to do so will leave it utterly powerless against a growing wave of anger—not just from its citizens but from a region no longer willing to tolerate its incompetence.
It is as if all the “reforms” and “commitments” we’ve heard about for years have somehow failed to materialize into meaningful change. Yet, according to politicians, we mustn’t be too harsh on ourselves. This has resulted in a culture where corruption is not only tolerated but often expected and nurtured, leading to a societal desensitization to unethical behavior. It reflects how corrupt power can distort priorities and collective well-being, even turning the most principled individuals into participants in the very system they may once have opposed. This is the paradox of every government’s promises, and the irony lies in how a system sustained by corruption can survive precisely by opposing it.
Following recent events in Belgrade, Kočani, and beyond, it is clear that a regional storm is brewing. A storm that is breaking out, and the consequences of this failure will resonate far beyond our borders.
