Skopje – The judicial system in North Macedonia is facing a deep crisis as Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski’s government has initiated proceedings to dismiss Chief Prosecutor Lupčo Kocevski.
According to the government, his actions have negatively impacted the country’s justice ratings, leading to low scores on the Transparency Index.
The situation is alarming, with multiple scandals involving both judges and prosecutors, while Prime Minister Mickoski has accused Kocevski of legal violations and mismanagement of the High Prosecutor’s Office, arguing that he has acted beyond his authority.
Prime Minister Mickoski’s Statement:
“The Prosecutors’ Council now has two weeks to assess whether the dismissal request has a legal basis.”
The government accuses Kocevski of unlawful actions by appointing Natasha Kollevska as Acting Head of the High Public Prosecutor’s Office following the suspension of Mustafa Hajrullahu. Kocevski has denied the accusations, stating that his decision was legal and that he did not appoint an acting leader but rather a temporary supervisor.
Chief Prosecutor Kocevski’s Statement:
“From what I have read in the media, the government’s reason for initiating dismissal proceedings is the claim that the selection of the head of the High Public Prosecutor’s Office in Skopje was not legal. I believe the government did not have all the relevant and accurate information.”
Meanwhile, the Public Prosecutors’ Council has expressed support for Kocevski’s actions, stating that his decision has a legal basis.
Statement by the Chairwoman of the Public Prosecutors’ Council, Dušica Dimitrieska:
“There is a legal basis for such a decision. This Prosecutor’s Office must have a public prosecutor leading the institution—it must have an authorized signatory.”
The Chief Prosecutor’s dismissal requires a vote by the Parliament, which needs 61 votes to approve it. Until now, such a dismissal has only occurred once, in 2017, when Marko Zvërlevski was removed from office due to his close ties with the VMRO-DPMNE party.
This remains a developing story, and a decision on Chief Prosecutor Kocevski’s fate is expected in the coming weeks from both the Prosecutors’ Council and Parliament.