Skopje, 29 April 2025 (MIA) - Parliament rejected Tuesday a no-confidence motion against Interior Minister Panche Toshkovski with 72 MPs voting against the motion and 20 in favor. The motion, which was filed by Levica, received the backing of opposition parties SDSM and DUI, is founded on ten bases, including five that are directly related to the nightclub fire in Kochani which claimed 62 lives and left about 200 injured. 

According to Levica, the first basis is having no control over the Kochani nightclub, which falls into the Interior Ministry’s duties. 

The second basis is illegal use of pyrotechnics, the third involves police officers who didn’t offer any assistance, the fourth basis is not acting on Facebook threats aimed at government critics, the fifth involves bans for drones in order to quell protests; sixth is the arrest of people in the Gostivar region trying to clean an ancient church, then no actions taken after the Macedonian flag was set on fire; the stealing of marijuana guarded by the police; the prime minister’s security detail member disclosing a top secret, and the tenth basis is nepotism and cronyism at the Interior Ministry.

In response to the motion, Toshkovski said he is not afraid of responsibility and remains in the post in order to come to the truth and clear up all dilemmas. 

"I stand before you not only as minister, but a person who understands the weight and responsibility of the job. I regret every life that has been lost," said Toshkovski and added that any dilemma deserves an answer based on facts and not political constructions.

On the Kochani tragedy, he said there were no shortcomings on the part of MoI, noting that the nightclub license had been falsified.

"A request for use of pyrotechnics in the nightclub was never filed to the MoI. The police acted in line with the law and there were no shortcomings. The responsibility lies with the ones who allowed the unlawful entry and use of the pyrotechnics," said Toshkovski.

He also said institutions are undertaking measures in all cases that are cited in the no-confidence motion. 

During the debate, Levica MPs requested that parents of the victims of the nightclub fire be allowed to attend the session, Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi dismissed their request as "an attempt to manipulate the public".

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