Court to Check North Macedonia’s Flood of Govt Decrees

"The Constitutional Court must adapt itself to these conditions as well. Concerning any regulation that someone deems unconstitutional, it can take the initiative," he said.

Denis Preshovа, assistant constitutional law professor at Sts Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, agreed.

"The government has full legislative activity in a state of emergency, and only the Constitutional Court can have direct control over it," he said.

The government decree envisaged delayed deadlines for proceedings before the Constitutional Court, but it was modified. Photo: BIRN

Judges now sitting in masks and gloves:

Eight of the nine judges on the court gathered for the second time last Wednesday to debate an appeal submitted by former MP and right-wing activist Todor Petrov against the decision to dissolve parliament ahead of now postponed elections, which were to be held on April 12.

The appeal did not succeed. One judge was absent from the session that BIRN observed. In an unusual manner, dressed in face masks, the judges started their session at 8.30 am.

The absent judge was Vladimir Stojanoski whose nine-year term expired on April 14, when he was due to return to the Supreme Court. Under the state of emergency, the terms of judges, the state President and members of the Judicial Council are extended, however.

Although the session was public, BIRN was not allowed to take photos of the judges, which is normally routine practice.

Security told BIRN that the court had banned mobile phones from being brought in because some journalists had recorded judges' public discussions and broadcasted them - and because the judges were now in masks.

During the state of emergency, the judges have held one...