Skopje, 12 January 2026 (MIA) – President Gordana Siljanovska-Davkova presented the candidates she nominated to be elected for members of the Judicial Council in Monday’s Parliament session.

Siljanovska-Davkova has nominated Suzana Joshevska-Anastasovska and Arlina Kadri-Shahinovikj.

Speaking about the two candidates, she said she picked them according to their professionalism and competencies as well as personal credibility, noting that judicial reforms should be implemented by individuals recognized in their field of work. 

“From the discussions here and in the public, it became clear that the Judicial Council has become a factor of crisis in the judiciary. I didn’t propose the two candidates only because they are women, but because they are professionals and competent individuals,” said the president.

Siljanovska-Davkova highlighted the importance of ethics as a condition for an independent judiciary in addition to professionalism and competence.  

“The Judicial Council is the microscope; it should consist of people who will have to assess based on their qualifications and based on their integrity and dignity. Legality, constitutionality, ethics is what matter most in the judiciary because only this kind of body can decide upon disciplinary responsibility, election and dismissal of judges, etc,” stated the head of state.

Reforms in the judiciary start in the Judicial Council, according to her.

“If in the Judicial Council we recruit people committed to law and who have the right qualifications, I believe it will pave the way for promoting the same criteria when electing judges,” Siljanovska-Davkova said.

Arlinda Kadri-Shahinovikj is a university professor with a long academic career at the Faculty of Legal and Political Sciences at FON and MIT University Skopje, and is also known to the public as a former member of the President’s pardons commission.

Suzana Joshevska-Anastasovska is a lawyer with many years of practice, particularly in criminal cases.

The proposals follow the adoption of the new Law on the Judicial Council on December 29, which introduces changes aimed at increasing transparency and accountability, ensuring public access to proceedings, clarifying the criteria for selecting a “distinguished jurist”, and strengthening the disciplinary responsibility of the members.

The Judicial Council is made up of 15 members, eight of which are selected by judges, three by Parliament, two are proposed by the President. The President of the Supreme Court and the Minister of Justice are also members of the body, but have no voting rights.

Photo: screenshot