The Government’s position is that the written part of the bar exam should be taken in the language in which the candidate completed their higher education, while the oral part, which involves simulations of civil and criminal proceedings, should be conducted in Macedonian, as the official language of the country’s judicial system, Macedonian Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said Tuesday.
“The judicial system in Macedonia is one thing, while the right to complete higher education in one’s mother tongue is another. No one disputes the right to complete higher education in a language facilitated by the state. In Macedonia, higher education at law faculties is conducted in three languages other than Macedonian; therefore, from the Government’s perspective, it is logical that the written portion of the exam be taken in the language in which the higher education was pursued,” noted Mickoski.
The PM explains that the oral component, which involves simulating civil and criminal proceedings, pertains to the administration of justice; in the context of law and the judicial system, the principle of “lingua franca”, a single, common language, applies.
“In Macedonia, that language is Macedonian. In line with the recommendation of the Venice Commission, the opinions of international institutions must be respected. Consequently, the judicial system in Macedonia remains “lingua franca” – a system in which Macedonian serves as the official language,” Mickoski highlighted.