Skopje, 23 December 2025 (MIA) - President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova said Tuesday that one of the most important aspects in restoring the citizens' trust is the need for an impartial and timely justice.

President Siljanovska Davkova said in her annual address in Parliament that the Safe City project has shown that habits change once rules are valid for all.

"Nevertheless, a systemic approach in solving traffic problems is necessary when tackling the uncontrolled construction that paralyses certain parts of the city. Local authorities play a key role in solving these problems. Municipalities must strengthen their controls so that the public space does not fall victim to personal interests. The state must protect its citizens, and not for citizens to feel they have to protect themselves from the state and the judicial system," said Siljanovska Davkova.

That is why, she added, the judiciary reforms are very important, starting with the adoption of the new Law on the Judicial Council.

"The old law was the generator of crises in the judiciary, enabling partisan appointments, politicization and incompetence. The new law, which has been approved by the Venice Commission and I believe the Parliament will soon adopt it, ensures more stringent criteria while increasing transparency as well. Therefore, instead of rushing to fill the vacancies in the Judicial Council according to the old criteria, maybe it is better to wait on the new law and have a merit-based Judicial Council," said Siljanovska Davkova.

The President noted that the effectiveness of judiciary reforms would impact the development of its resilience to various influences.

"The effectiveness of the reforms will determine if our judiciary can say 'no' when politics says 'yes'. It will determine if we strengthen the citizens' trust in law and justice. Although there is no formal obligation to align with the European law in the judicial sector, it is clear that the rule of law is impossible if the legal framework fails to incorporate the best European practices. Reforms must be guided by principles not partisan interests, by knowledge and integrity not party loyalty," noted Siljanovska Davkova.

She also referred to the Constitutional Court, saying its decisions should not be put under political pressure.

"Its independence is crucial in turbulent times. The Constitutional Court decisions should not be put under the pressure of politics, but based on law and constitutional principles. I have always promoted the observance of the institutional balance through the system of checks and balances. The President does not have the right to usurp the judicial branch but has the right to defend its independence. This is the only way for institutions to function as a system," noted Siljanovska Davkova.

On the Law on Pardoning, she said it currently does not provide for sufficient legal certainty or transparency, adding that "the pardon should not be an act of discretion without clear rules, but a mechanism of clear provisions in the public interest".

Photo: MIA