section_path: Reactions/Domestic
section_name: Domestic
paragraph_text: Domestic
  
  Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski expressed deep sadness over the nightclub fire, saying the loss of so many young lives was irreparable, and that the government was fully mobilised to help determine the cause of the fire. President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova visited some of the fire victims in hospitals and met with their relatives. She called for punishment for those responsible for the fire and said, "Nothing is worthier than human life, specifically young life." The mayor of Kočani, Ljupčo Papazov, resigned on 17 March. In a social media post announcing his resignation, he called for a thorough investigation into the fire and for national unity amongst Macedonians. On 14 April, Kočani municipal council member Venko Krstevski was appointed as acting mayor of Kočani.
  
  Minister of Health Arben Taravari said that representatives would be appointed to inform parents of the victims transported outside the country of their relatives' condition every four to five hours. Toškovski announced on 20 March that all Macedonian telephone operators had decided to exempt all phone numbers of Macedonians abroad from roaming and internet fees, so that they can contact their relatives in North Macedonia and institutions, if necessary.
  
  Seven days of national mourning were declared for the victims. Two 18-year-olds were arrested in Skopje on the night of 19 March for violating the national mourning period, after it was determined that they held a birthday celebration at a restaurant in the Skopje City Park and also set off fireworks there. The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services advised the media to "broadcast/publish content that, in terms of its media function, corresponds to the days of mourning", and stipulated that the broadcast music should be from "musical genres appropriate for days of mourning", all comedic and entertainment shows should be postponed, and advertisements should not be shown during the days of mourning. For the duration of the period of mourning, they also temporarily lifted a requirement that broadcasters broadcast a certain percentage of Macedonian music.
  
  Minister of Culture and Tourism, Zoran Ljutkov, announced the cancellation of all cultural activities conducted by the Ministry of Culture and its national institutions scheduled for the next week. He offered his support to the victims and their relatives, and said that all cultural institutions in Skopje will provide support if necessary. The Macedonian National Theater announced the cancellation of all performances scheduled between 17 and 22 March, and that relatives of the victims in Skopje to visit their injured relatives in hospital would be provided with accommodation in the theater's dressing rooms and suites. In Skopje, many hotels and restaurants offered free accommodation and food for the relatives of victims being treated in Skopje. The Macedonian government opened a hotline for psychological support for the victims and their families.
  
  The Agency for Audio and Audiovisual Media Services announced a 1,500,000 MKD donation to the Macedonian Red Cross 's Solidarity Fund to assist the victims of the fire. The UKIM students' union donated the 415,724 MKD that they collected at student gatherings to the fund. As of 20 March 2025, 34,836,205 MKD was donated to the Solidarity Fund in total. On 30 April, Stopanska Banka announced a 250,000 euro donation to more than 200 families affected by the fire.
  
  The North Macedonia national football team with permission from UEFA wore a black and grey kit during their first two 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches to honour the victims. During their matches on 22 March against Liechtenstein and on 25 March against Wales, both teams wore black armbands and observed a moment of silence before kick-off. In addition, the Football Federation of North Macedonia donated all proceeds from ticket sales for the match against Wales in Skopje to the victims and their families. On 15 April, a memorial to the victims of the fire was unveiled at the Šutka prison in Skopje. On 29 April, the concertmaster of the London Symphony Orchestra, Roman Simović, performed in a benefit concert with the Fame's Institute Orchestra at the hall of the Macedonian Philharmonic Orchestra, with all proceeds going to the Red Cross fund dedicated to assist families of victims of the fire.
  
  On 1 April, North Macedonia's parliament approved a ban of the usage of pyrotechnics in enclosed spaces. On 28 April, Kočani's acting mayor, Venko Krstevski, declared that restaurants would have 90 days to bring their sidewalk cafes to regulation, after which violations will lead to forcible demolition. He said that this was meant to assist emergency services' movement, and said it was a reaction to the Pulse fire, where crowded roads caused firetrucks difficulty in reaching the burning club.
  
  The municipality of Vinica, Jovan Kostadinov's hometown, announced that it would dedicate a commemorative plaque to him and awarded him a monthly subsidy of 6000 MKD for higher education for rescuing 21 people from the club.
  
  In May 2025, photojournalist Slobodan Đurić won first place in a photography competition organized by the Association of Journalists of Macedonia with his photograph "Father – Kočani" (Macedonian: Татко – Кочани, romanized: Tatko – Kočani), depicting a grieving father holding a photograph of his desceased son, a young victim of the fire.