Skopje, 13 March 2025 (MIA) - The European Parliament’s rapporteur for North Macedonia, Austrian MEP Thomas Waitz, said in a media statement Thursday the government coalition’s “push for members of the Judicial Council to resign or be dismissed based on their alleged political affiliation” is “a concerning sign of political interference in the judiciary”.

“This call by the government is a concerning sign of political interference in the judiciary. The independence of the judicial system is crucial for the rule of law and separation of power which are fundamental values for North Macedonia‘s path into the EU,” Waitz said in a media statement.

On Tuesday, Parliament adopted motions of no-confidence against five members of the Judicial Council: Vesna Dameva, Pavlina Crvenkovska, Milazim Mustafa, Tanja Chacharova Ilievska and Selim Ademi. 

The motions were filed back in February by 67 MPs from the ruling coalition.

Despite Parliament’s adoption of motions, according to the Law on Judicial Council, the members themselves decide whether they will step down from their posts.

In a media statement on Wednesday, Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he expects the five members to resign because, according to the PM, “they have no credibility to occupy” their posts.

"I expect them to demonstrate moral responsibility and leave the posts they have captured, because they have no credibility to occupy them," the PM told reporters.

Photo: MIA Archive