It has been almost two years since SPO began its work and no one has actually been successfully convicted, creating a perception of impunity, says the report of Reinhard Priebe’s expert group, that visited Macedonia in July.
The report states that all important areas, such as the judiciary, security or media, require systemic reforms based on an inclusive, transparent and cross-party process. They advise that the preparations should start immediately, but that the reforms should not be hastened.
According to the expert group, the reforms in the security sector are to be pursued as a matter of urgency. They stress that only one of the twelve recommendations dated from 2015 in the area of judiciary and prosecution has been implemented.
“Many of the practices denounced in the 2015 report have continued. The control and misuse of the judicial system by a small number of judges in powerful positions to serve and promote political interests has not diminished in any significant respect. There is a danger that some in the new government may be tempted, under the excuse of
acting against wrongdoers, to replace judges who have misbehaved with others willing to act for them in a similarly unacceptable manner. It is essential that the new authorities stand back, respect the separation of powers and allow the judiciary to function as an independent arm of government administering justice fairly and impartially and operating fair and effective systems of judicial self-government unencumbered by any outside interference,” concludes the expert group.
The expert group underlines that it is essential to secure a criminal responsibility for all wrongdoers regardless of their political background.
