The Presidency of North Macedonia "does not know" the Albanian language, the Government partially, while the Assembly does

"There is law, but there is also Malik", this is the expression that best suits the use of the Albanian language in the country's institutions. The law is there, but there is also "Maliq", on which its implementation depends, since whenever the composition of the government changes, so does its implementation. In this direction, the use of Albanian was analyzed for a week in communications with the media and websites of the Government of North Macedonia, the Presidency and the Assembly, now that these institutions are headed by new people. 

During the analyzed seven days (September 12-18) of the communiqués of these three institutions, it can be observed that the Presidency does not respect the Albanian language at all, the Government sends communiqués in Albanian as well, albeit late and not all, while the Assembly always applies the Albanian language , except for very rare exceptions.

During the seven analyzed days, the presidency has not sent even a communiqué in the Albanian language, while a similar practice occurred during the presidency of this institution by former president Stevo Pendarovski. However, it has not been at this level again. Although on very rare occasions, a communiqué was sent here and there in the Albanian language.

When it comes to the website, the situation is not better, but it is still functional even in Albanian. However, it is not the same update as in Macedonian. For example, during the control of the website by our editors on September 19, in the Macedonian version of the website, the last communique of the Presidency is dated September 18, while in the Albanian version it is dated September 10, while between the dates 10- On September 18, there was daily information in the Macedonian language. So, for 8 full days, the website has not been updated with any Albanian information. Meanwhile, in the Albanian version, the "Categories" part is in the Macedonian language, as can be seen in the following pictures (right):

The Assembly of North Macedonia, in the seven analyzed days, sent almost all communiques in both languages, except for one communique that was sent only in Macedonian.

As for the website of the Assembly, the daily announcements and agenda are constantly updated with new information in the Albanian language. Whereas when it comes to more specific data, they are not found in the Albanian version. For example, the sections "Open data" and "Register for organizations" are not located in the Albanian version of the website.

However, compared to the Government, and the presidency is not even in question, the Assembly of the Republic of Moldova uses the Albanian language, especially in communication with the media.

This practice in the Assembly was also when Talat Xhaferi was Speaker. So there are no changes in this institution, respectively it can be concluded that the Albanian language is applied in its entirety.

When it comes to the Government of North Macedonia, it is not that the practice of communications sent in the Albanian language has changed much from the time of the Technical Government or from that of the SDSM. In all three cases, the communications in the Albanian language are sent irregularly. Namely, each communique is first sent in Macedonian, then in both languages ​​at the same time, and the difference between the two communiques reaches over two hours. This means that after the journalists have already done their work, translated the communique and published the news, the communique arrives in Albanian.

Below we illustrate the seven-day delivery of communications from the Government:

September 18 - The government has sent 9 communiques, five of them also in the Albanian language, the others only in Macedonian. One of the communications sent in Albanian was sent after two hours.

September 17 – On this date, 3 communiqués were sent, two in Macedonian only, while one in Albanian and Macedonian. Namely, one of the communications was sent once in Macedonian, while the second time in Albanian and Macedonian.

September 16 - The government has sent 11 communiqués. All in both Albanian and Macedonian, but as always with a delay of 30 minutes to an hour. Accordingly, 5 communiqués were first sent in Macedonian, then in both languages. A communique of this date is of September 15, which on this date was sent only in Macedonian.

September 15 – On this date, a communique was sent only in Macedonian. The same in both languages ​​was sent on September 16.

September 14 – On this date, only one communique was sent only in Macedonian.

September 13 – The government has sent five communiques, two of which were initially only in the Macedonian language, then in both languages, while one communique is a list of spokespersons that does not need translation.

September 12 – On this date, nine communiqués were sent, four times only in Macedonian, then in both languages. One is sent only in the Macedonian language.

As for the Government website, the Albanian language is more applicable than that of the Presidency, which has not updated the Albanian website with the latest information for eight days. The government updates the Albanian version of the website one or two days late. Checking both versions on September 20, it is noticed that in the Macedonian version there is information from the same day, while in Albanian it is from the day before, September 19.

The problem with categories, just like on the website of the Presidency, is also encountered on the website of the Government. For example, as can be seen in the pictures below, "Meta podatoci" and "Slični objecija" in both versions of the website are in Macedonian.

As for comparison, between the three governments, that of the SDSM, the technical one and the VMRO, it is not that there is any big difference, what is noticeable as a difference is that under Talat Xhaferi, the Albanian communiqués were always sent parallel to those in the Macedonian language.

Also, during Xhaferi's Government, only communiqués were translated into Albanian where Prime Minister Xhaferi was the "protagonist", while in relation to other members of the Government, no communiqués were sent in Albanian at all. In rare cases, communiqués were sent in Albanian, when they did not have to do with Xhafer, even those with very important news.

In case of non-implementation of this Law, material fines are foreseen for institutions and for individuals.

Article 22
(1) Fines in the amount of 4,000 to 5,000 euros in denars for misdemeanors will be imposed on the bodies mentioned in Article 1 paragraph (3), Article 2 paragraph (3), as well as all other institutions for non-compliance with the provisions of this law.

(2) A fine in the amount of 30% of the determined fine will be imposed on the official and the
responsible person in the bodies from paragraph 1 of this article.

We remind you that the Government of North Macedonia was negligent towards the Albanian language even during the Corona virus pandemic. At first glance on the official website of the Government, the data in the Albanian language in some cases did not appear at all and in some cases were not complete or were not completed and updated./ Portalb.mk