Albanian political parties in North Macedonia are continuing their fierce disputes over the Language Law following statements by the Speaker of the Parliament, Afrim Gashi, who declared that “Macedonian is the only official language” in the country. Gashi made this claim during an interview on the television channel Alsat, stressing that Albanian is not an official language, but merely in “official use” and “translated” in official documents.
The reaction from the Albanian opposition was swift and strong. The European Front coalition, led by the Democratic Union for Integration (BDI), labeled Gashi’s statement as a “blatant lie and a serious betrayal of the Albanian people.” MP Arbana Pasholli described Gashi’s remarks as a “shameful act of submission and betrayal,” emphasizing that it violates the constitutional principles of the state.
On the other hand, Arben Taravari, the Minister of Health and leader of the Albanian coalition VLEN, supported Gashi’s position. He argued that while Albanian is widely used in certain spheres, it is not on equal footing with Macedonian as an official language. Taravari acknowledged that although Albanian is used in various public sectors, it does not hold the same official status as Macedonian.
In response, the European Front coalition reminded Gashi and the public that Article 5 of the Constitution of North Macedonia explicitly recognizes Albanian as an official language, alongside Macedonian. This amendment, adopted following the Ohrid Agreement in 2001, ensures that all official documents, including those issued by state bodies, are written in both Macedonian and Albanian for citizens who speak the latter language.
The Language Law, which has been at the center of political debates since its adoption in 2018 and coming into force in 2019, introduced significant changes, including the use of Albanian in judicial proceedings, on banknotes, and in police uniforms. Despite these changes, the law has faced fierce opposition from the VMRO-DPMNE, the Macedonian opposition party, which has taken the law to the Constitutional Court, challenging its constitutionality.
The Constitutional Court has yet to rule on the matter, even after five years of debate and delays. On December 11, 2023, a session to review the law’s constitutionality was postponed due to a boycott by two Albanian judges, Osman Kadriu and Naser Ajdari. The President of the Constitutional Court, Darko Kostadinovski, confirmed that the next preparatory session for the Language Law will be held on March 20, 2025. As part of the process, experts in constitutional and international law will be invited to provide their opinions.
The debates surrounding the Language Law reflect the ongoing tensions between Albanian and Macedonian political parties, contributing to a politically polarized climate in North Macedonia. This issue remains one of the most sensitive challenges to interethnic coexistence and political stability in the country.
