North Macedonia’s parliament voted on Monday to oust Vesna Dameva, a member of the Judicial Council, amid growing political turmoil over judicial independence and the rule of law.
The motion, backed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition and introduced by opposition VMRO-DPMNE’s Antonio Milloshoski, passed with unanimous support from all 77 MPs present in the 120-seat parliament. No votes were cast against the measure, and no abstentions were recorded.
Political reactions
The decision sparked heated political debate, with critics denouncing it as an unconstitutional attack on judicial independence. Addressing lawmakers before the vote, Dameva rejected the initiative as a “politically motivated act” that would deepen, rather than resolve, the judicial system’s crisis.
“Should you trample over living people like this?” Dameva asked during the session, questioning the legitimacy of parliamentary interference in judicial matters.
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski and his ruling VMRO-DPMNE party defended the move, arguing it was necessary to restore trust in the judiciary, which has faced mounting criticism over alleged corruption and inefficiency.
The party insisted Dameva’s removal was a crucial step toward judicial reform. Milloshoski argued the Judicial Council was “politicized” and that her dismissal was part of an effort to “dismantle the corrupt system.”
Opposition lawmakers, including the Social Democratic Union of Macedonia’s (SDSM) Oliver Spasovski, condemned the vote as a “dangerous precedent” and a direct attack on the rule of law. Spasovski warned that such political interventions could undermine judicial independence.
“With this unconstitutional initiative, the parliamentary majority is destabilizing the legal order,” Spasovski said. “This is a dangerous precedent.”
International concern
The developments have drawn international scrutiny. Thomas Waitz, the European Parliament’s standing rapporteur for North Macedonia, warned that the government’s actions signaled political interference in the judiciary.
“This call by the government is a concerning sign of political interference in the judiciary,” Waitz said. “The independence of the judicial system is crucial for the rule of law and separation of power, which are fundamental values for North Macedonia’s path into the EU.”
U.S. Ambassador to North Macedonia Angela Ageler said Washington was closely monitoring parliamentary proceedings and statements related to the no-confidence motions against five Judicial Council members.
“We are following very closely the procedures in parliament and the statements regarding the approved interpellations for five members of the Judicial Council,” Ageler told reporters at an event in Idrizovo on Wednesday. “The most important thing is for the process to be conducted in a clear and transparent manner.”
Broader implications
The vote to remove Dameva comes amid heightened tensions over the role of the Judicial Council, which oversees the appointment and dismissal of judges. The opposition Democratic Union for Integration (DUI) announced plans to initiate additional no-confidence votes against Constitutional Court judges, raising further concerns over judicial independence.
Meanwhile, the left-wing Levica party supported Dameva’s dismissal, calling for greater accountability in the judiciary. “This is a key moment in the fight for the rule of law and public trust in institutions,” Levica MP Borislav Krmov said.
Despite her removal, Dameva vowed to continue her work until the end of her mandate, hinting at further legal and political disputes.
The vote has deepened the debate over the judiciary’s role in North Macedonia, a country under pressure from the European Union to implement judicial reforms as part of its bid to join the bloc.
