Skopje, 16 March 2025 (MIA) – With a minute of silence Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski began his press conference Sunday in the wake of the devastating fire in Kochani, stressing that today was the most difficult day in his life and vowing to take action in the fight against, what he called, the corrupt system. 

“In the coming days, we will take a series of measures and activities and decisions that will mean a lot in the fight for this country and in the name of all victims of this tragedy and their families. I owe this to you, I owe it to the families of the dead, to the media and every person in Macedonia,” Mickoski said.

The Prime Minister said immediate action has been taken to deal with the consequences, while currently he has reports that the building where the accident happened possesses a falsified license issued in March 2024 in exchange for a bribe. “This is a document for the work of a cabaret, issued illegally, with an original seal from the Ministry of Economy and the signature of the officials at the time from the same Ministry,” he said.

“With everything that is happening and has happened to us, we must hold everyone involved to account regardless of what institution they are from, or what level, party, profession etc., until the last one. Expect that when it comes to accountability, there will be no mercy. First and last names must be held to account in a surgically precise action by the institutions, without mercy,” Mickoski said.

Mickoski said a demonstration of moral responsibility is necessary.

“And many will tell me, the people know that the Government has no blame in this, that it is a new Government that is fighting against the issues that have accumulated for decades and a system of corruption that has been created for decades in the country, but I say, regardless of that, we must be an example that will have meaning and value and there must be moral responsibility,” Mickoski said at the press conference.

The Prime Minister highlighted the need for unity and to “focus on the facts and everything else that is important for a big reset of the system”.

“As politicians, we must demonstrate something different, something firm and principled that will be able to overcome this system that is swallowing our country and is the sole obstacle, threat and danger to whether this country will survive or not. We will either become a proper country or cease to exist. This time there is no going back,” the Prime Minister stressed.

Mickoski noted he heard the messages from the opposition and added he wouldn’t like the case to be politicized in the sense that someone is trying to assign the blame to a political party. 

“This is not an interparty fight between VMRO-DPMNE and SDSM, this is a fight of the honest against the dishonest and corrupt from all parties and all institutions. I am referring to all honest people in Macedonia – in VMRO-DPMNE, in SDSM, in VLEN, in DUI, and in all other parties, who sincerely want to see order in the country. Regardless of the ideological differences, we must put an end to corruption and destroy the corrupt people who abuse the institutions, just as they destroyed and trampled on what we were watching today, our souls. This is a fight against a monster that is swallowing the future of the country and takes victims, it takes our dearest ones, and beating it is our duty,” Mickoski said.

Mickoski said the institutions will examine and investigate all aspects and issues that have led to the tragedy.

“I am determined and I will act decisively. There will be decisive steps and decisions, there will be steps the public isn’t used to, but the changes begin with us,” the Prime Minister stressed.

In the press conference, the Prime Minister thanked the doctors and medical staff in the country for treating those affected. He also expressed gratitude to the neighboring countries who offered to help.

Mickoski said in his life and career he has decided “to act with principles, responsibly, honorably and openly” regardless of the “risks”.

“I entered politics to change something. I found a deeply corrupt system that has been created and nurtured for decades, made up of people from all parties, all kinds of profiles. If that system isn’t toppled, this country will never succeed. That system cannot be taken down easily and swiftly, since it was built for decades, not months or years. I feel deep resent, deep responsibility for everything that has happened all these past decades, as well as the things I have seen so far and the things that have brought us to such a difficult situation as a country, and this feeling is now so much deeper considering this happened now, after not even nine months since this Government which I am leading was elected,” Mickoski said.

The fire in Kochani, according to the Prime Minister, is a culmination of a bad system “that swallows our hope”.

“Either we beat it or it beats us. Victory against that system is possible only through courage, virtue and the principles we believe in,” Mickoski said.

Photo: MIA