3. How Macedonia Can Enforce Strict Anti-Corruption Laws Without Exceptions

A Note to Our Readers

The Macedonian Citizens Alliance is an independent, non-partisan platform committed to giving citizens a real voice in ending corruption and shaping a just, transparent, and prosperous future for Macedonia. We are not in favour or against any political party. We will support any government or opposition initiative that challenges corruption and promotes integrity and progress, but we will also hold all parties, leaders, and institutions accountable - regardless of affiliation. Macedonia has had enough of division. If you believe that political leaders and public officials should serve the people with honesty and with citizens’ interests as a priority, then support us. Our role is to keep every party, every official, and every institution honest - so that together, we can rebuild trust and create a better country for all.

The greatest threat to a corrupt official is not exposure—it’s consequences. In Macedonia, too many scandals have come and gone without justice. Politicians caught red-handed walk free. Businessmen who bribe their way to power become millionaires. The message is clear: if you're powerful, the rules don’t apply. That message must end here.

Why Consequences Matter

Corruption thrives when the powerful are untouchable. Without penalties that are swift, severe, and consistent, laws become theater and institutions become props. The fight against corruption will only succeed when every official—no matter their title, party, or connections—knows that there is a price to pay for abusing the public trust.

We must replace symbolic prosecutions with systemic enforcement. That means prioritizing corruption cases, funding independent investigations, and ensuring that verdicts are carried out—not buried in bureaucracy or delayed until public outrage dies down.

No Exceptions, No Immunity

One of the most corrosive elements in Macedonian politics is legal immunity. It is a shield that too many hide behind. If you are elected to serve the people, that service should come with greater accountability, not protection from the law.

Parliamentary immunity must be drastically limited, if not abolished altogether, for corruption-related offences. Judges, prosecutors, ministers—no one should be above the law. If the judiciary cannot apply justice equally, it loses all legitimacy.

Proportional Penalties That Deter

Penalties for corruption must reflect the scale of the damage caused. When a politician embezzles public funds, they’re not just stealing money—they’re stealing hospital beds, school supplies, clean water, and a future for the next generation. Sentences must be harsh enough to deter—not just symbolically punish.

Fines should be substantial. Asset seizure must be mandatory. Jail time must be real and unavoidable for serious offences. And perhaps most importantly, convicted individuals must be permanently banned from holding public office.

Fast-Tracking High-Level Corruption Cases

High-level corruption trials cannot be allowed to drag on for years while public attention fades. Special anti-corruption courts or fast-track procedures should be introduced for these cases. Transparency must be guaranteed at every stage—from investigation to verdict—so that the public can see that justice is not only promised, but delivered.

Rebuilding Trust Through Accountability

Every time a corrupt official walks free, a citizen loses faith in democracy. But every time justice is applied without exception, that faith begins to return. We do not want revenge—we want rule of law. We do not seek vengeance—we seek accountability.

Justice without exceptions sends a message: Macedonia belongs to its people, not to its predators.

The Choice is Ours

We can either continue excusing corruption—or we can start erasing it. If we want a better future for our children, we must build a system where no one is above the law, and every act of corruption is met with real, irreversible consequences.

Let justice be the great equalizer. And let it begin now.

Michael Penevski

Co-Founder, Macedonian Citizens Alliance

Michael Penevski holds a Bachelor of Law degree and is an investment banker specializing in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. A long-standing critic of political impunity, he has been a vocal advocate for transparency, systemic reform, economic revitalization, and citizen-led governance. Born into a family grounded in Macedonian values, Michael co-founded the Macedonian Citizens Alliance to help build a nation that serves its people - not the privileged few.

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