Albanians in North Macedonia have reacted strongly following a decision by the head of the Constitutional Court of North Macedonia, Darko Kostadinovski, to issue traffic fine notifications only in Macedonian and English—excluding the Albanian language.
Albanian political parties have called on international institutions to respond to what they describe as attempts to undermine constitutional order and previously acquired rights.
The decision has sparked broader concern among the Albanian community, which represents over 25% of the population. University professor Bashkim Selmani announced that a petition is being prepared to be sent to international actors regarding the non-respect of the Albanian language in the country.
He criticized the court’s leadership, stating:
“The President of the Constitutional Court not only refused but also showed individual contempt, which has deeply outraged us. The language of institutional nationalism is what forces us to turn to international institutions.”
Selmani further argued that the status of the Albanian language in North Macedonia does not reflect its demographic and political importance, especially when compared to other regional examples.
“Albanian, spoken by over a quarter of the population, is not fully recognized as an official language at the state level. Its use depends on political will rather than firm constitutional guarantees,” he emphasized.
According to him, the current legal framework does not ensure full and equal status for the Albanian language, leaving its implementation dependent on institutional discretion.
Albanian parties have urged the international community to closely monitor the situation and respond to any efforts that may weaken constitutional protections and minority rights in North Macedonia.
