North Macedonia’s Constitutional Court is expected to rule soon on a lawsuit challenging the Law on Languages, which recognizes Albanian as a second official language. The Court’s Chief Justice has described the law as a “legal chaos,” signaling the potential annulment of key provisions that grant Albanian official status.

What was said

During her first official visit to Skopje, Speaker Elisa Spiropali met with her counterpart Afrim Gashi, calling for the full implementation of the existing law. Spiropali emphasized the importance of upholding the Ohrid Agreement, which enshrines the use of the Albanian language as part of North Macedonia’s commitment to minority rights.

“We expect and hope that the Law on Languages will be fully implemented. The Albanian language is sacred and is at the core of our identity. Any infringement on its use is deeply painful and undermines our identity. We understand the concerns over possible changes depending on the Constitutional Court’s upcoming decision, but we expect a resolution that aligns with the spirit of the Ohrid Framework Agreement,” Spiropali stated.

Context 

During her visit to Skopje, Spiropali also met with Prime Minister Mickovski and prominent Albanian leaders such as Ali Ahmeti, Talat Xhaferi, as well as the leader of the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM), Venko Felipče.

As North Macedonia’s Constitutional Court prepares to decide on the Law on Languages, Spiropali’s call highlights the ongoing tension over language rights and underscores the importance of adhering to international agreements that protect minority identities.