The Constitutional Court of North Macedonia has rejected three initiatives challenging provisions of the Law on Misdemeanours, particularly regarding the implementation of the “Safe City” surveillance system and the use of languages in traffic violation procedures.
The case sparked significant debate within the court, with divided opinions among judges, especially regarding the use of the Albanian language in official communication related to traffic fines.
The initiatives were submitted by several political figures, including Zijadin Sela, Ilire Dauti, Elmi Aziri, Ylli Paçuku, and Arben Taravari. The Safe City system, which relies on surveillance cameras to detect traffic violations, began operating in Skopje, Tetovo, and Kumanovo in February.
Dispute Over Language Rights
Constitutional judge Osman Kadriu argued that the Albanian language should be used in these procedures, stressing that rights guaranteed by the constitution cannot be restricted or abolished by legislation.
“The right to use the Albanian language as an official language, including in these misdemeanor procedures, is not being implemented,” Kadriu stated.
However, the court’s president Darko Kostadinovski rejected claims that language rights were being reduced. He said that traffic fine notifications sent via SMS would be issued in Macedonian and may also be sent in English—but not in Albanian.
Political Reactions
The decision triggered strong reactions from political actors, particularly the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), which demanded Kostadinovski’s immediate resignation.
In a statement, BDI described the remarks as “scandalous and unacceptable,” arguing that they undermine the principles of the Ohrid Framework Agreement, which guarantees expanded rights for ethnic communities in the country.
Meanwhile, Besar Durmishi, Minister of Economy of North Macedonia, said the head of the Constitutional Court should defend the constitution rather than engage in daily political disputes. He emphasized that the constitution recognizes Macedonian and any language spoken by at least 20% of the population—such as Albanian—as official languages.
Durmishi added that government institutions will continue to push for the protection of constitutional language rights, including within the Safe City system.
