ZNAM: judicial exam must be taken only in Macedonian, party says

ZNAM says North Macedonia's Constitution and laws allow the judicial (bar) exam to be taken only in Macedonian, former justice minister and party Central Board chair Igor Filkov said, defending the party's consistent stance and criticizing his successor's approach as "hybrid."

Filkov, who led the Ministry of Justice in a previous government, also warned that the proposed compromise risks sidelining substantive legal requirements. "It is not about whether I am for or against. First, about that hybrid solution — let's call it that — I learned about it from you, the media. I am not against anyone taking the exam in a language that is allowed under the laws and the Constitution. What worries me is that such a hybrid solution was ad acta rejected by those who protest and refuse to take the exam in the language that tomorrow should be used in all institutions where they plan to work as judges, lawyers, prosecutors, etc. That is more than worrying," Filkov said.

Political reactions

ZNAM leader Maksim Dimitrievski earlier said the judicial exam can only be held in Macedonian, adding that the prime minister knows the party's position and that he will seek a leaders' meeting with coalition partners to set clear "red lines."

The Alliance for Albanians reacted by saying the matter exceeds day-to-day politics and directly affects the functioning of the judiciary and the constitutional order. They accused Dimitrievski of using the issue for electoral gain and called him a "patriot on batteries."

SDSM also responded, accusing ZNAM of pushing the judicial exam as a topic to manufacture a clash inside the coalition, create the impression of tension and open the way to early elections — and to avoid acknowledging threats to financial stability related to Alta Bank.

Students and several faculties rejected Jeton Shasivari's proposal that would allow the theoretical part of the exam in Albanian while keeping the practical part in Macedonian, and warned they would return to protests if necessary. Shasivari has said he wants to reach a modern, legally sound and European-oriented solution through dialogue and plans to ask the Venice Commission for an opinion. Five faculties that teach in other languages have requested the judicial exam be held in Albanian, Turkish and English.

Photo: press material from the event