Kostadinovska-Stojevska: With the amendments the government has backed the Law on Macedonian Language

With the Law on the Use of the Macedonian Language we adopted with the support of all MPs, in January 2024, after 18 years, a clear control was introduced for the first time how the Macedonian language would be used, where and whether properly, as well as the formation of an independent inspectorate. Today, through the proposed changes, we testify to the background of that progress, said SDSM MP Bisera Kostadinovska-Stojevska.

– With the abolition, in paragraph 2 of Article 1, the Inspectorate loses its legal and budget independence and turns into a department of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism – contrary to what was agreed and what we promised in 2024. Although the expert public, the ministry staff and all stakeholders demanded that the Inspectorate remain independent, today it is being annulled-said Kostadinovska-Stojevska.

She emphasized that the additionally proposed changes do not provide clear criteria for either choice or dismissal of the Director of the Inspectorate.

– Article 22 states that the Government appoints a director through a public announcement, but without a clear procedure and without defined conditions for selection. Even the director is expected to be dismissed because of « temporary incapacity », without clarification what it means, nor a predicted appeal – said the SDSM MP.

The amendments to the Law also reduce the expert criteria: instead of exclusively internationally recognized certificates of knowledge of language, « another document » is allowed, thus lowering the criterion.

– Despite the law passed, for almost a year and a half there was no serious attempt to function – neither the internal acts of the ministry were harmonized, nor was new proofreaders, nor the systematization was implemented. Today we see that the Agency for Promotion of Tourism is still functioning with the old structure, indicating that it has no capacity. Instead of strengthening the law, an attempt is made to limit the autonomy of the body that should monitor and protect the use of the Macedonian language. This is a direct blow to what we fought for – independent, professional and functional inspectorate – said Stojcevska Kostdinovska.