Skopje, 23 December 2024 (MIA) - At a press conference Monday, the president of the Constitutional Court Darko Kostadinovski called on the country’s politicians not to interfere in the work of the Constitutional Court and to remain committed to the rule of law and European values.

“Anyone who thinks the rule of law will be disrupted by political manipulations, pressure and influences should give up. No one is above the Constitution. Everyone is obliged to respect the Constitution. No one can have more power and rights than the ones granted by the Constitution,” Kostadinovski said.

The president of the Constitutional Court addressed the citizens as well, stressing that the Constitutional Court would continue to “uncompromisingly” protect the Constitution and the freedom and rights of the citizens.

“The rule of law cannot violate anyone’s rights or feelings, on the contrary, it is a guarantee for your freedoms and rights, recognized in international law and established in the Constitution. Don’t allow anyone to manipulate your feelings. The power of the Constitution is based on the will of each of us to protect it and stand behind it. I will remain consistent to the pledge I made on my first day as president – I am loyal to the Constitution and no one else,” Kostadinovski said. 

Looking back at the Court’s work in 2024, Kostadinovski said 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”.

“The attempts to give the Court’s actions and decisions a political or ethnic character using unfounded and inappropriate qualifications of me, of the Court, undoubtedly represents political pressure and influence on the Court. I indignantly dismiss all attempts to manipulate, influence or pressure the Court. These attempts have nothing to do with the commitment to the rule of law, nor with the constitutional, legal or political culture, nor with the European values,” Kostadinovski said.

Despite this, according to Kostadinovski, the Court did not succumb, and the influence wasn’t reflected in the quality of its work.

“I will briefly note that 2024 will be remembered as a year of revolutionary reforms in the work of the Court, one of the most efficient years regarding the number of cases we have solved, as well as a year of heightened trust by the citizens in the Constitutional Court, considering the amount of submitted initiatives, a figure which surpasses those of previous years,” Kostadinovski said. 

Kostadinovski stressed that the Court has strengthened its ties to international and domestic organizations.

“I am especially proud that the Court will continue its cooperation with the OSCE Mission in Skopje next year with a new memorandum of cooperation. The implementation of the IPA III project with the EU will continue, as well as the cooperation with TIKA,” said the president of the Constitutional Court.

Photo: MIA