Skopje, 26 January 2026 (MIA) - Restoring trust in the institution of the Ombudsman, cooperation, and staffing will be the focus of the newly elected Ombudsman, Faton Selami, who was sworn in on Monday by the Speaker of Parliament, Afrim Gashi.

Speaker Gashi congratulated Selami, wishing him success and advising him to work in the service of the people, defending the rights of all citizens regardless of their  ethnicity, religion, or party affiliation. 

“I want to thank all MPs, including those from the non-majority communities, who worked together on Friday to, above all, unblock a very important post such as the Ombudsman. I think this is the only way in which we should work in Parliament – openly, through dialogue, seeking solutions in the interest of all citizens,” Gashi said. 

Selami vowed to work professionally, impartially, and with the highest commitment to the citizens, the Constitution, and the legislation. 

He said his priority will be to restore trust in the institution. 

“To that end we will work with all relevant factors, with the Parliament and with the Government so that we can first fill the vacancies in the institution. The institution’s staff has been halved and we also have the election of eight deputy Ombudsmans ahead of us. There are reports that there is a draft law to amend the Law on the Ombudsman, which we will need to assess once again with the experts and in cooperation with the Parliament of North Macedonia as soon as possible so the amendments can be adopted. Those are the priorities,” Selami stressed. 

In response to a journalist’s question that the Ombudsman has often faced a lack of receptiveness from other institutions and how Selami intends to deal with that, the new Ombudsman said that this is foreseen in the amendments to the Law on the Ombudsman.

“Currently our only tool is the media. With suggession, public reproach, and in cooperation with the media. I think that with the amendments misdemeanor provisions will be introduced as well, if the Ombudsman’s recommendations aren’t respected,” Selami said.

Faton Selami is taking over the post of Ombudsman, after former Ombudsman Naser Ziberi’s retired on July 12, 2025.

Selami is a law graduate who holds a Master of Laws degree and has passed the bar and notary exams.

The term of the Ombudsman lasts eight years, with the possibility of one re-election in accordance with the Law and the procedures of the Parliament.

Photo: MIA