The use of the Albanian language in state institutions and a 2010 document concerning the Serbian language in Kumanovo have become the latest points of contention between the Democratic Union for Integration (DUI/BDI) and the VLEN coalition in North Macedonia.
The debate was sparked by BDI’s reaction to an event held by Health Minister Azir Aliu at the Institute of Public Health. According to the opposition party, a sign displayed within the institution was written only in Macedonian, in violation of the Law on the Use of Languages.
BDI described the case as evidence of the diminishing status of the Albanian language in state institutions, emphasizing that during the period when the party was part of the government, signs in the same institution were displayed in both languages, in accordance with the law.
“Yesterday’s case, in which Health Minister Azir Aliu unveiled a sign within a department of the Institute of Public Health only in the Macedonian language, is clear evidence of the disregard for the Albanian language and a blatant violation of the law in force. Ironically, during the period when the Democratic Union for Integration was in government, signs in the same institution were displayed in two languages, in accordance with the law and the spirit of institutional equality,” BDI said in its statement.
Through a public reaction, Ali Ahmeti’s party accused Albanian representatives in the executive branch of remaining silent in the face of legal violations and published a photograph which it claims illustrates the differences between the previous period and the current situation.
On the other hand, VLEN responded to the accusations by drawing attention once again to a 2010 document which it claims proves BDI’s support for introducing Serbian as an official language in the Municipality of Kumanovo.
VLEN representative Afan Elezi stated that BDI has provided no explanation regarding the published document, arguing that its silence amounts to an admission of political responsibility for the decision.
According to him, it remains unclear why BDI supported the official use of the Serbian language in Kumanovo while today criticizing its political opponents over issues related to the use of the Albanian language.
“Twenty-four hours have passed since the publication of the document proving that BDI, in 2010, at the height of its political power, voted to introduce Serbian into official use in the Municipality of Kumanovo. So far, BDI has provided no response to this fact. They did not deny the document. They did not deny the decision. They did not deny their vote. They chose silence,” Elezi said.
The dispute between the two political blocs comes at a time when the issue of language use in state institutions remains one of the most debated topics in North Macedonia’s political landscape.
Just a day earlier, BDI also published documents from the Cadastre Agency which it claims raise questions about property and business relations between former Chair Municipality Mayor Visar Ganiu and NOMAGAS Director Nedim Rama. VLEN, however, rejected the allegations, describing them as unfounded.
