The Constitutional Court of North Macedonia has announced that it will review the constitutionality of the highly debated Language Law during a session on December 11. The court emphasized that it would not comment on any party’s stance before the session but promised to respond to questions at a press conference following the session.
The Language Law, which was first discussed in 2017 and passed in 2018, provides for the expanded use of the Albanian language and specifically mentions it in Article 2. The Court is set to examine this article as part of its review of the law, which has sparked controversy and prompted 13 initiatives from citizens, political parties, and associations since 2019.
The decision regarding the constitutionality of this law has led to strong political reactions, especially after the abolition of the “Balancer” mechanism on October 9. This mechanism regulated the “fair and adequate” representation of communities in state institutions.
On Friday, Izet Mexhiti, the Deputy Prime Minister of North Macedonia from the Albanian coalition VLEN, which is part of the government, called for citizens and institutions to approach the matter with “calmness.” He further stated that the Constitutional Court should consider this law as a “political matter” and not just a legal one.
“The Language Law stems from the Ohrid Agreement and is the pillar of this state. Anyone who challenges the Ohrid Agreement is challenging interethnic relations and stability,” said Mexhiti.
Previously, Mexhiti announced that Albanian judges in the Constitutional Court would boycott the session on December 11.
“The chairman has also stated that all judges must participate, and if anyone is absent, the decision lacks legitimacy,” he added.
Meanwhile, the opposition party, the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), issued a statement on Friday warning of “serious consequences” if the law is annulled.
“If the Constitutional Court decides to destroy the achievements of the Ohrid Agreement, the consequences will be irreparable, and we cannot take responsibility for what might follow,” said the BDI’s statement.
In response to these warnings, the Prime Minister of North Macedonia, Hristijan Mickoski, said that there is no risk to the country’s security, regardless of the Constitutional Court’s decision.
“There is no risk to security. We have never allowed that. We have warned that there are attempts to undermine security. What you read is one of those attempts,” Mickoski said on Friday.
Earlier, Mickoski had stated that not the entire law is being contested, but only “two or three provisions.” His party, VMRO-DPMNE, has consistently opposed the law and vowed to make “corrections” when it gains power.
The Language Law has been in limbo at the Constitutional Court for five years, and the Balancer mechanism and the Language Law were included on the agenda shortly after VMRO-DPMNE came to power in North Macedonia.
