CIVICUS discusses recent protests in North Macedonia with Borjan Eftimov, a student activist from the local group YOUth Choose.

North Macedonia has erupted in protest following a nightclub fire on 16 March that killed 59 people and injured dozens more. Public outrage has been fuelled by widespread perceptions of governmental failures, including endemic corruption and systemic negligence in enforcing safety regulations that could have prevented the tragedy. Protesters refuse to accept explanations that dismiss the tragedy as an unfortunate accident. They are voicing dissatisfaction with a system plagued by corruption and neglect, and demanding accountability, transparency and meaningful reform.

What triggered the protests?

The protests began in Kochani, eastern North Macedonia, after a nightclub fire killed 59 young people and injured dozens. While this tragedy was the immediate cause, it exposed deeper frustrations with corruption, neglect and institutional failures. Over the past decade, North Macedonia has faced multiple preventable tragedies – from fatal traffic accidents to a hospital fire and a scandal involving expired cancer medications – that all highlight systemic issues. People are outraged that avoidable oversights, such as lax building inspections and politically influenced business licences, repeatedly result in loss of life.

There’s a growing perception that public safety is being sacrificed for political convenience. Although successive governments have promised reforms, little has changed. After each crisis, anti-corruption campaigns are launched but quickly fade. For many, the Kochani fire feels like a tipping point.

After the fire, the government blamed ‘the system’ and pledged reforms. But many saw this as an attempt to deflect responsibility and argue that the ruling coalition has controlled Kochani’s local government for four years and held national power for the past year, which makes it difficult to shift blame to previous administrations. There was widespread fear this would follow the usual pattern: a few scapegoats and not meaningful change.

What are the protesters’ main demands?

Protesters are calling for both immediate justice and long-term reforms. People are tired of excuses and are demanding accountability for those responsible and tangible reform. They demand stricter safety regulations and transparent licensing processes, the digitalisation of inspection services and full transparency in procurement processes, public access to monitoring tools and independent courts and oversight bodies to ensure investigations free from political influence.

At the core of these demands is breaking the close ties between political power and business interests, which enable corruption and negligence to persist. Protesters also want greater participation and stronger checks on political privileges.

Who is participating in these protests?

The protests are notable for their diversity. People from different political affiliations, economic backgrounds and ethnicities have united to demand change. While most protesters are young, they represent a broad cross section of society.

This unity is rare in North Macedonia, where political discourse is often divided along ethnic or partisan lines. The nightclub fire has reminded everyone that corruption and institutional decay affect all people equally. Even in fragmented societies, moments of collective grief and anger can spark solidarity.

Despite attempts by some government-linked media outlets to delegitimise protesters by labelling them as foreign agents or traitors, the movement remains focused on its goals.

What political impact could the protests have?

If the government responds with superficial gestures instead of real reform, it risks long-term instability. Unaddressed grievances could lead to mass unrest or open opportunities for populist or extremist forces to gain traction, as seen elsewhere in the Balkans.

However, there’s also potential for positive change. These protests could inspire new civic leaders and grassroots movements committed to transparency and accountability. By operating outside traditional party systems, such movements could offer a more inclusive governance model.

This moment represents a critical juncture: whether North Macedonia moves towards greater accountability or deeper disillusionment depends on how decisively its leaders act on these demands.