A fire at a nightclub in Kočani on 16 March killed at least 59 people and injured over 150, mostly teenagers and young people, with the government declaring a rare seven-day period of national mourning. Over 100 of those injured required medical treatment abroad. The tragedy sparked public outrage and protests over alleged systemic failures linked to corruption, official negligence, and impunity, which compromised public safety. Authorities said that the nightclub lacked a proper operating license, did not meet security standards, and had only one accessible exit, which led to a stampede. Interior Minister Toshkovski stated that there were grounds to suspect a connection between corruption and the incident. At least 15 people were detained, including former Economy Minister Kreshnik Bekteshi, while the Mayor of Kočani resigned on moral grounds. Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski pledged accountability, vowing a thorough investigation and a reopening of past cases, such as the 2021 fire at the Tetovo Covid-19 hospital. 

Sources: Republika (1), Republika (2), Euronews, The Guardian, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2), British Broadcasting Corporation 

On 15 December, the residence of ex-First Deputy Prime Minister Artan Grubi (a top official in the ethnic Albanian opposition party Democratic Union for Integration) was raided amid an investigation into embezzlement and abuse of office. Grubi, suspected of misappropriating EUR 8 million from the State Lottery, was not found at home. A detention order was issued, followed by an international arrest warrant. Former Prime Minister Dimitar Kovacevski is also under investigation. Grubi claimed to be abroad on a private visit, and as of 22 January 2025, his whereabouts remain unknown. Given the challenges posed by high-level corruption and difficulties with prosecution and impartial justice in the country, it is crucial to monitor how this case develops. Former Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski fled to Hungary in 2018 to avoid a jail term for corruption.

Sources: North Macedonia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, Media Information Agency (MIA), 360 Stepeni, Republika, Balkan Insight (1), Balkan Insight (2)

On 9 October, the Constitutional Court abolished the “Ethnic Balancer,” a mechanism introduced in 2015 to enforce ethnic quotas in public sector jobs. The State Anti-Corruption Commission had challenged its constitutionality earlier in 2024, arguing it violates freedom of expression and may unfairly exclude applicants. Critics, including the ruling VMRO-DPMNE party, claim the mechanism has led to an over-staffed public sector with party loyalists and was misused due to the fluidity of ethnic identity. The mechanism greatly improved the inclusion of the Albanian minority, who make up about one-quarter of the population, but its removal has sparked concerns about potentially reversing progress in the already fragile inter-ethnic relations. It is important to watch how the removal of this mechanism will affect minority inclusion and whether it will be replaced with new legislation to address inclusion. 

Sources: Media Information Agency, TV21, Radio Free Europe (North Macedonia) (1), Radio Free Europe (North Macedonia) (2), New York Times, North Macedonia's Constitutional Court

North Macedonia held parliamentary elections and the presidential runoff on 8 May. The right-wing coalition VMRO-DPMNE emerged as the largest party with 43.3 per cent of the vote, marking a shift in power after seven years of rule by the centre-left Social Democratic Union (SDSM), which secured 15.3 per cent of the vote. The European Front coalition received 13.6 per cent. VMRO-DPMNE-backed Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova won the presidential runoff with 65 per cent of the vote, becoming North Macedonia's first female president. Experts said the results reflect voter frustration with corruption and stalled EU accession efforts. Women comprised 43 per cent of parliamentary candidates. International observers reported the elections were competitive with a pluralistic campaign, but were marred by nationalistic rhetoric, legislative shortcomings, and inadequate oversight of campaign finances. Similar to previous elections, voter turnout was 55.4 per cent for parliamentary elections and 47.4 per cent for the presidential runoff.

Update: In a final report issued in September, international election observers said that the elections were competitive and fundamental freedoms were respected, but the process remained insufficiently regulated.

Source: State Election Commission (1), State Election Commission (2),Reuters (1), Reuters (2), OSCE ODIHR (1), OSCE/ODIHR (2), International IDEA