7. Judicial Reform in Macedonia: Securing Legal Independence to Fight Corruption

A Note to Our Readers

The Macedonian Citizens Alliance is an independent, non-partisan platform committed to giving citizens a real voice in ending corruption and shaping a just, transparent, and prosperous future for Macedonia. We are not in favour or against any political party. We will support any government or opposition initiative that challenges corruption and promotes integrity and progress, but we will also hold all parties, leaders, and institutions accountable - regardless of affiliation. Macedonia has had enough of division. If you believe that political leaders and public officials should serve the people with honesty and with citizens’ interests as a priority, then support us. Our role is to keep every party, every official, and every institution honest - so that together, we can rebuild trust and create a better country for all.

When courts are controlled by politics, corruption becomes untouchable. In Macedonia, the justice system has become a battlefield—not of truth and law, but of influence and intimidation. Too many judges fear politicians. Too many prosecutors protect them. And too many citizens have lost hope that justice will ever be served.

To rebuild trust in the rule of law, we must start with the one thing that makes a democracy possible: an independent judiciary.

A System in Chains

Judges in Macedonia often operate under invisible pressure—whether through political interference, career threats, or subtle intimidation. Prosecutors are handpicked, cases are delayed or dropped without explanation, and powerful individuals seem to operate in a parallel legal universe.

The result is devastating. Citizens see a system that punishes the weak and protects the well-connected. They stop believing in the courts. They stop reporting crimes. And slowly, society begins to unravel.

Judicial Independence: Not a Luxury—A Lifeline

An independent judiciary isn’t optional. It’s the foundation of everything else. If courts can’t operate without fear or favour, then no anti-corruption reform will ever stick. Laws mean nothing if they are not applied fairly.

We need to guarantee:

• Transparent and merit-based appointments of judges and prosecutors.

• Fixed terms with secure tenure to protect judicial independence.

• Removal procedures based only on misconduct, not politics.

• Independent disciplinary bodies to investigate corruption within the judiciary itself.

Judges and prosecutors must answer only to the law—not to party leaders or powerful businessmen.

Strengthening Investigative Powers

Reform isn’t just about independence—it’s also about capacity. Prosecutors must be given the tools, authority, and institutional support to investigate high-level corruption without obstruction. This includes access to financial records, inter-agency cooperation, and the ability to launch investigations proactively—not only after public pressure mounts.

We must establish a new anti-corruption prosecutor with full autonomy and guaranteed

resources.

Transparency in the Courtroom

Justice must not only be done—it must be seen to be done. Key corruption trials should be open to the public, with published schedules, livestreamed hearings, and timely verdicts. No more secret deals. No more quietly dropped cases. If a politician is on trial, the people should witness every step of the process.

Ending Political Immunity

A key part of judicial reform is removing the legal shields that allow politicians to evade prosecution.

No one—whether in parliament or at the head of a municipality—should be above the law. Immunity must be redefined and limited, especially for crimes involving abuse of office and corruption.

A Justice System Worth Believing In

Macedonia will never be whole again until its people can walk into a courtroom and know

they will be treated fairly. Until victims of corruption see the guilty punished. Until judges

serve justice—not fear and/or personal interests.

Judicial reform is not a technical exercise—it is a national rebirth. A clean judiciary will not

only protect our present. It will shape the kind of country our future generations will grow up

in.

And that is worth fighting for.

Michael Penevski

Co-Founder, Macedonian Citizens Alliance

Michael Penevski holds a Bachelor of Law degree and is an investment banker specializing in private equity, mergers and acquisitions, and capital markets. A long-standing critic of political impunity, he has been a vocal advocate for transparency, systemic reform, economic revitalization, and citizen-led governance. Born into a family grounded in Macedonian values, Michael co-founded the Macedonian Citizens Alliance to help build a nation that serves its people - not the privileged few.

Macedonian Citizens Alliance

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