Kocani Fire Investigation among Key Topics at Q&A Session of Parliament

The investigation into the Kocani fire was among the key topics at Thursday’s Q&A session of Parliament. Again, SDSM’s MPs asked why senior officials were yet to resign and whether “the selective investigation” was protecting those directly responsible for the 16 March nightclub tragedy.

In response, PM Hristijan Mickoski again stressed that the Prosecutor’s Office was in charge of the investigation. However, he added that unlike in cases concerning the previous major tragedies, there were current officials who were in detention.

The Balancer’s abolition was among the topics, too, with DUI parliamentarians asking why it hadn’t been replaced. Mickoski said that a draft-law on equitable representation had been drawn up, adding nonetheless that alignment with the Constitution was needed in order to make sure that it wouldn’t be abolished by the Constitutional Court.

When it comes to the matter of belated pay for workers in the culture sector, the representatives of the Culture and Finance Ministries said the payment had started the previous day and would end on Thursday (24 April).

The session also saw the PM asked how the country would manage the US tariffs issue. He stated that the rate was 10%, not 33%, adding that “Macedonia will be among the rare countries with lowest tariffs”.

The PM also said that he was “these days” having regular communication with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick.