The mayor of Štip municipality, Ivan Jordanov, has carried out a leadership change at two kindergartens. Ivana Angeličkova, director of "Vera Cirivirji-Trena," is being moved to head "Astibo." Ana Jakimova has been appointed acting director of "Vera Cirivirji-Trena." The question that comes with this: what's going on at "Astibo"?

According to Jordanov, the reason for the shake-up is "personal dissatisfaction with the work of the previous director" and "suspicion of financial irregularities." He has already asked the State Audit Office to analyse the kindergarten's financial operations. "I will not tolerate irresponsible behaviour by any local-level official, because all of us have a responsibility to serve our citizens responsibly."

That's the standard political phrasing that doesn't say what was actually found. "Suspicion of financial irregularities" - that could mean anything from incorrectly drawn invoices to an organised misuse of the budget. When a mayor publicly engages the State Audit Office, it usually means there's enough basic evidence for something concrete - but the discretion is now with the courts, not with the city hall.

The removed director of "Astibo" is expected to come under the state auditor's lens. Results from that audit are expected in the coming weeks. Until then, the parents of children attending "Astibo" have a right to one question that local administrations systematically don't answer: does the tax money that was collected for salaries, food, and investment in the kindergarten actually go there? If the answer is "not entirely," then the story isn't about one shake-up - it's about a system that allowed the same situation to exist for five years, maybe more, without intervention.

Jordanov is in his first year in office. Sacking two directors in one move is a message to the other institutions - "I'm watching, and I will act." Whether it actually means anything for the operation of "Astibo" depends on what the State Audit Office finds. Until then, it's just the politics of moving people around.