Skopje, 31 July 2025 (MIA) – Local elections will be called by the mid-August deadline in order to leave space for the vacant posts of Ombudsman and head of the anti-corruption commission to be filled, Parliament Speaker Afrim Gashi said Thursday. If the Commission on Appointment and Election Issues passes a decision on the election of Ombudsman and if an agreement is reached since a Badinter vote is required for the office, then an emergency session can be scheduled as early as today, according to him.

“This issue is a challenging one for Parliament. The first procedure involving the Ombudsman’s post has kicked off. After a public call was issued, 17 candidates have sent applications,” Gashi told reporters.

Driton Nebiu, head of the Speaker’s office, is one of the candidates for the post. Speaking at today’s press briefing, he confirmed his candidacy saying he meets the conditions after serving 18 years as a lawyer and working 15 years in Parliament all the while being an international consultant with an MA in human rights.

As regards the State Commission on the Prevention of Corruption (DKSK), Gashi said a public call for the post of head of the institution will be issued today.

“Parliament has ten days to issue a call. We’ll do it today in order to meet the deadline. We’ll see how to handle it in line with the laws because the provisions are not quite clear in terms of whether head of DKSK and an ombudsman can be elected or appointed once elections are scheduled,” the Speaker stated.

Regarding the no-confidence vote against the State Public Prosecutor Ljupcho Kocevski, Gashi said the lawmakers had voiced their position and “now it is up to the other bodies that need to hear the voice of the people’s representatives”, namely the government and the state prosecutor.

Speaker Gashi won’t travel to Pelince on Ilinden (August 2) to deliver an address due to health reasons. Parliament at the August 2 event will be represented by one of the vice presidents.

Parliament will be in summer recess from August 4 until August 22, said Gashi noting that the legislative house is always in session and MPs will be told to pause their summer break if necessary.

Photo: MIA