Skopje, 23 December 2024 (MIA) - The preparatory session over the Law on the Use of Languages ​​is expected to be held in the period between March 19 and 21, said Constitutional Court President Darko Kostadinovski. He noted that the court will hold a regular working meeting on Tuesday, to draw up the list of participants and the disputable legal issues related to the initiatives under the law.  

"I expect the disputed legal issues and the list of participants to be drawn up tomorrow. We have a proposal from the reporting judge, but everyone is free to put forward a proposal," said Kostadinovski.

He added that more than 20 names have been proposed, which include experts in constitutional law, international law, human rights, and former judges of the European Court of Human Rights.

The Constitutional Court President said a friendly counsel has been requested from the Venice Commission, adding that it will be adopted at a session on March 14-15. 

"Which means that the preparatory session can be expected in the next days. As soon as the friendly counsel is adopted on March 14-15, it will be published on March 17 or 18. We have requested for a representative from the Venice Commission to attend the preparatory session and explain the friendly counsel. My expectations are that the preparatory session will be held between March 19 and 21," Kostadinovski noted. 

He expressed regret for the absence of some of his colleagues at the previous language law session, stressing that he would not allow anyone to blackmail or block the work of the Constitutional Court.

"The minimum quorum for the court's work is five judges, decisions are made by five votes, unless a qualified majority is required. The preparatory session will be held if the minimum quorum requirements are met," said Kostadinovski.  

As regards Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama's statement that the Albanian language is not an issue for the Constitutional Court of Macedonia, Kostadinovski said that those statements were inappropriate and unseemly. 

"If we get into comments from foreign statesmen, it's not my place. But I am obliged to react, and I react to any statement from a domestic or foreign actor that expresses doubt or labels our actions," he added. 

Looking back at the court’s work in 2024, Kostadinovski told Monday's press conference that the Constitutional Court implemented many significant reforms and novelties in its work but also noted that 2024 was a year of “serious political pressure and influence on the Court”. In response to a reporter's question on the report on the amendments to the Criminal Code adopted last September, he said the latest information was that it is in its final phase.

"In the next month or two, the court will discuss the report on the amendments to the Criminal Code. The report is in its final phase, once it is submitted, i.e. it will reach me either today or tomorrow, once it reaches me at one of the next sessions it will be put for discussion and decision before the court. I am convinced that in the first month or two of next year the Court will also discuss this issue," he said.

On the reason why a decision has not been made even after two years, he pointed out that the deadlines from the new Act do not apply to that matter.

Photo: MIA