A new wave of protests is rising in Skopje, where Albanian students have announced a major demonstration on May 18 following the continued refusal to allow the bar exam to be taken in the Albanian language — an issue they describe as a violation of language rights and institutional discrimination.
The protest is expected to begin at 4:30 PM in front of the Stone Bridge and follows the April 6 march, when hundreds of students from the South East European University and the University of Tetovo took to the streets demanding the implementation of the Law on Languages and the right to take exams in Albanian.
Students argue that the institutions’ refusal constitutes institutional discrimination, emphasizing that Albanian is an official language in North Macedonia and should be treated as such in academic and legal procedures.
During the first protest, demonstrators marched toward the Ministry of Justice carrying banners reading: “Respect the Law on Languages,” “STOP Institutional Discrimination,” “The Exam in Albanian Is a Guaranteed Right,” and “When the Law Is Silent, We Speak.”
The protest has received support from political figures and student organizations in both Kosovo and Albania.
Former Albanian Prime Minister Pandeli Majko strongly criticized the situation, stating that “studying in Albanian and taking the exam in Macedonian insults even the most naive intelligence.”
He also criticized North Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski for suggesting consultations with the Venice Commission regarding the use of the Albanian language.
“No one in North Macedonia can push the European future of Albanians back into the dark past of Yugoslavia,” Majko wrote.
Support was also expressed by PDK leader and prime ministerial candidate Bedri Hamza, who stated that the voice of Albanian students represents a generation demanding respect, equality, and dignity for their national identity.
“The voice of Albanian students in Skopje tomorrow is the voice of a generation seeking respect, equality, and dignity for its national identity. I stand with every young Albanian who rises to defend their language, identity, and rights. We are with you!” Hamza wrote.
Meanwhile, Pristina Mayor Përparim Rama stated that “the Albanian language is not a privilege, but a constitutional and fundamental right.”
“Silence in the face of discrimination is complicity,” Rama said, adding that “where language is denied, identity is denied.”
The Student Parliament of the University of Pristina has also confirmed its participation in the protest, calling on students to unite “for a right that must be guaranteed.”
Meanwhile, North Macedonia’s Ministry of Justice continues to defend its position that Macedonian remains the primary language in legal procedures, despite the demands of Albanian students.
However, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski had previously stated that if there is a request for the exam to be held in Albanian, it should be allowed.
“The Law on Languages is clear in this case,” he had said.
At the same time, the Ombudsman of North Macedonia has opened a case to review the implementation of the Law on the Use of Languages and the way the bar exam has been organized.
