Abstract
This chapter analyzes constitutional politics in the Republic of Macedonia from its independence in September 1991 up until the end of 2014. Main factors influencing the constitutional development were the Greek resistance against the new-established state and ethnic tensions between the Slavic-Macedonian majority and the Albanian minority. The most comprehensive constitutional reform came as a result of the internationally mediated Ohrid Framework Agreement, which solved the armed conflict in the North-West of the country in 2001. Although the majority of all amendments between 1991 and 2014 dealt with civil rights and executive-legislative relations, Macedonia has still not succeeded in establishing a stable constitutional democracy.
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Notes
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
For the developments in the other post-Yugoslav countries, see the respective chapters in this volume.
- 4.
This was also reflected in the formulation of the question in the independence referendum: “Are you in favor of a sovereign and independent state Macedonia, which has the right to join a coming union of sovereign states of Yugoslavia?” (State Election Commission 1991, translation J.T.).
- 5.
Lorenz differentiates four categories: institutionalist, culturalist, historical-sociological, and rational-choice approaches.
- 6.
Unfortunately, neither at the Website of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia (2015), nor in other sources are any data available on failed attempts to amend the Macedonian constitution. Therefore, this chapter is restricted to an analysis of the successful amendments.
- 7.
The so-called ‘socio-political chamber’, the ‘chamber for representatives of the municipalities’, and the ‘chamber of associated labor’.
- 8.
If not stated otherwise, all voting results are quoted from the Website of the Assembly of the Republic of Macedonia (2015).
- 9.
Constitutional changes in Macedonia have been structured as consecutively numbered “Amendments”, starting with Amendment I in 1992, which have been attached to the original constitutional text (see Macedonia 2011a). With two exceptions, the amendments each contain only one changed article.
- 10.
With the exception of being caught committing a crime for which a prison sentence of at least 5 years is prescribed.
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Appendix: Constitutional Politics in Macedonia 1991–2014
Appendix: Constitutional Politics in Macedonia 1991–2014
Dates of amendment and implementation | Articles | Constitutional subfields | Short analysis of the reform process |
|---|---|---|---|
01/06/1992 | Art. 3, 49 | • Preamble and basic principles • Human and civil rights | • Regular amendment by parliament with unanimous vote (final vote: 110-to-0 majority with 1 abstention) • Main actors: main parliamentary parties, government • Duration: about two months |
07/01/1998 | Art. 12 | • Human and civil rights | • Regular amendment by parliament with unanimous vote (final vote: 90-to-0 majority without abstentions) • Main actors: government, main parliamentary parties • Duration: about three months |
11/16/2001 | Preamble, Art. 7–8, 19, 48, 56, 69, 77–78, 84, 86 104, 109, 114–115, 117, 131 | • Preamble and basic principles • Human and civil rights • Judiciary • Local self-administration • State structure | • Regular amendment by parliament with broad two-thirds majority (94-to-8 majority with 1 abstention) • Main actors: EU, USA, government, parliamentary parties, armed rebel group • Duration: about 4 months |
12/26/2003 | Art. 17 | • Human and civil rights | • Regular amendment by parliament with slightest possible two-thirds majority (80-to-5 majority without abstentions) • Main actors: all parliamentary parties • Duration: short |
12/07/2005 | Art. 13, 15, 84, 89, 91, 98–100, 104–106 | • Human and civil rights • Executive • Judiciary | • Regular amendment by parliament with two-thirds majority (86-to-7 majority with 1 abstention) • Main actors: governing parties • Duration: about 1 month |
01/09/2009 | Art. 81 | • Elections | • Regular amendment by parliament with unanimous vote (86-to-0 majority without abstentions) • Main actors: government, governing parties • Duration: about 1 month |
04/12/2011 | Art. 4 | • Preamble and basic principles | • Regular amendment by parliament with unanimous vote, but slightest possible two-thirds majority (80-to-0 majority without abstentions) • Main actors: government, governing parties • Duration: about 4 month |
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Töpfer, J. (2016). Macedonia. In: Fruhstorfer, A., Hein, M. (eds) Constitutional Politics in Central and Eastern Europe. Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft. Springer VS, Wiesbaden. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-658-13762-5_13
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