October choice for head of Special Prosecution raises question: equal rules for all?
Appointment of the special prosecution's chief in October sparked a televised debate about whether the powerful are treated differently from ordinary citizens.
In October prosecutors will choose the head of the Special Prosecution for the Prosecution of Organized Crime and Corruption, and that appointment has sharpened a central question of public debate: do the same rules apply to the powerful as to ordinary citizens?
The selection was the main theme of tonight's broadcast of Top Tema, where panelists argued that the outcome will be a test of public confidence in the justice system and may influence how external observers assess the country's fight against corruption.
What is at stake
High-profile cases and the leadership of prosecutorial offices are linked in public perception: a change at the top of the special prosecutor's office could affect both the pace and the direction of major investigations. Panelists warned that expectations are high and transparency in the selection process will be closely watched.
Participants on the programme included Biljana Ivanovska, former chair of the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (DKSK), journalist Vasko Magleshov and Darko Avramovski of the Coalition "All for a Fair Trial". Each raised concerns about where corruption is most entrenched and whether institutional practices treat influential actors differently.
For many citizens, the coming appointment is more than an internal reshuffle: it is a moment to measure whether institutions will apply equal standards to everyone. The debate underlined that the credibility of prosecutors and their leaders remains a key element in restoring trust.
Photo: press material from the event
