What do you think of the current student protest going on in North Macedonia?
While the 2008 law was a massive step for ethnic inclusivity, its implementation faced challenges. Consistent access to minority languages in judicial proceedings and interactions with central government ministries frequently lagged due to bureaucratic or resource limitations.
These ongoing struggles led to the passage of a much broader and more comprehensive Language Law in 2018, which expanded bilingualism across almost all state institutions and public life. This 2018 law faced significant political and constitutional scrutiny.
The students say their right to take the bar exam in Albanian is guaranteed under the constitution and legislation on languages, but Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s centre-right government wants a panel of experts to consider the issue first.
Accusing authorities of unnecessary delays, the students say they will take to the bridge over the Vardar again on May 18(today). Participants say the issue is not just about a single professional qualification, but is part of a broader struggle to make sure Albanian language rights - enshrined in law - are implemented in practice.