Constitutional Court warns: Missing judges and political pressure erode trust

The head of the Constitutional Court, Darko Kostadinovski, warned that political pressure, delays in appointing judges and disputed legal amendments are damaging the rule of law in North Macedonia. He said the low level of public trust in the judiciary is not an isolated problem but the product of a broader system in which nobody should be untouchable.

Kostadinovski singled out the failure to fill the court’s full bench as one of the clearest channels for political influence over the judiciary. According to him, the absence of a complete panel weakens institutional resilience and hampers citizens’ confidence in fair adjudication.

Judge Osman Kadriu underlined that institutional integrity is essential for restoring trust and urged domestic bodies to align consistently with European practices. He stressed that adherence to established standards is a necessary step toward rebuilding credibility.

Forum in Ohrid focuses on modern threats

These assessments were voiced at the Fourth annual meeting of the Forum of Balkan Constitutional Courts in Ohrid, where contemporary challenges to the rule of law, protection from political interference and the implications of the digital age for constitutional justice were central topics.

At the international conference, constitutional judges and experts from the region and Europe exchanged experiences and best practices. Delegates delivered a concise message on the summit floor: "only through independent institutions and mutual solidarity can true trust of citizens in the rule of law be restored."

The gathering aimed to identify common responses and strengthen cross-border support among constitutional bodies, with participants agreeing that coordinated institutional action is crucial to reverse declining public confidence.

Photo: press material from the event