Albanian language dispute reignites political tensions in North Macedonia over judicial exams

A fresh controversy over the use of the Albanian language in North Macedonia’s judicial (bar) exams has sparked protests and political debate, highlighting persistent challenges in balancing linguistic rights with the uniform application of justice in the multi-ethnic country.

Thousands of Albanian-speaking law students recently demonstrated in Skopje, waving Albanian flags and demanding the right to sit for the jurisprudence exam – a key professional qualification for becoming judges, prosecutors or lawyers – in their mother tongue. Although they complete their university studies in Albanian at accredited institutions, candidates are currently required to take the final judicial examination exclusively in Macedonian, a situation they describe as discriminatory and contrary to existing legal protections.

The dispute has revived sensitive questions about the practical implementation of language rights, more than two decades after the Ohrid Framework Agreement of 2001 helped resolve deep ethnic tensions.

Background: From conflict to power-sharing via the Ohrid Agreement

In 2001, North Macedonia (then the Republic of Macedonia) narrowly avoided a wider civil war when ethnic Albanian insurgents of the National Liberation Army clashed with government forces. The conflict stemmed from long-standing grievances over discrimination, limited representation in state institutions, and restricted use of the Albanian language.

Mediated by the European Union and the United States, the Ohrid Framework Agreement ended the fighting and laid the foundation for a more inclusive state. Key provisions included greater decentralisation, equitable representation of Albanians (who make up roughly 25% of the population) in public administration and security forces, and expanded language rights: any language spoken by at least 20% of the population became co-official at the municipal level alongside Macedonian. Albanian thus gained significant official status in many areas, including education, local administration, and certain state institutions.

The agreement, incorporated into the constitution, aimed to foster a civic, multi-ethnic democracy while preserving the unity of the state. For over 20 years it has largely succeeded in preventing major violence and enabling peaceful power-sharing, though implementation has sometimes been uneven and politically contested.

Current dispute: substance vs uniformity

Albanian politicians and student leaders argue that the right to use Albanian should extend logically from university studies to the judicial exam. Bilal Kasami, leader of the opposition BESA Movement, stated: “If legal studies can be completed in Albanian, then judicial exams should follow the same logic.” They frame the issue as one of substantive equality and full implementation of linguistic rights in core state institutions.

The government, led by Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski, takes a more cautious stance. Mickoski announced the formation of a committee of constitutional experts to examine the matter, acknowledging a “dual challenge”: protecting the rights of students who study in their mother tongue while safeguarding the principles of legal uniformity and institutional coherence.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that the judicial exam is a specialised professional evaluation, not a routine administrative procedure automatically covered by broader language laws. It insists the current process complies with the existing legal framework.

The Council of Europe Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission) has previously expressed concerns about extensive bilingualism in the judiciary, citing risks of practical inequalities, limited administrative resources, and potential inconsistencies in the application of the rule of law.

Political reactions and next steps

The protests have quickly escalated into a broader ethnopolitical issue. Albanian parties see the demand as a legitimate step toward full implementation of rights guaranteed by the Ohrid Agreement and the constitution. The government has warned against politicising the matter and has informed NATO and EU partners of the situation to prevent any risk of destabilisation.

As of early April 2026, the expert committee is expected to deliver recommendations soon, while the Constitutional Court may ultimately be asked to provide a definitive ruling on the scope of language rights in judicial professional examinations.

Broader implications for North Macedonia

This episode tests the resilience of North Macedonia’s multi-ethnic institutional framework at a critical moment, as the country continues its long-standing bid for European Union membership. Progress on the EU path depends heavily on demonstrating stable inter-ethnic relations and a functioning rule of law.

While the Ohrid Agreement successfully transformed ethnic conflict into a system of power-sharing and minority protections, recurring disputes over the practical use of the Albanian language show that turning formal rights into consistent, everyday reality remains an ongoing and delicate challenge.

Resolving the current controversy through calm dialogue and legal clarity – rather than escalation – will be essential to maintaining confidence in the state’s institutions and preserving the fragile ethnic balance that has held since 2001.

With partner media IBNA and ADN.

Caption: Ethnic Albanian students from the Faculty of Law wave Albanian flags and chant anti-government slogans during a protest over the lack of opportunity to sit the bar exam in the Albanian language in Skopje, North Macedonia, 6 April 2026. EPA/GEORGI LICOVSKI