site.btaNorth Macedonia's Constitutional Court Fails to Elect Chairman After Eight Votes

The Constitutional Court of the Republic of North Macedonia failed to elect a president at Monday's session, the country media report. The term of the incumbent court chair, Dobrila Katsarska, expired on Sunday, June 2. Both attempts to gather six votes in favour of the proposed candidates on Monday ended unsuccessfully.

One of the two candidates for the position, Ana Pavlovska-Daneva, withdrew from the race, allegedly to unblock the process and prevent a crisis. Even so, the second candidate, Tatiana Vasich-Bozadjieva, received only five votes from the nine-member panel.

Five of the constitutional judges voted for Osman Kadriu, who was proposed as president after the failed vote for Vasich.

Thus, North Macedonia’s Constitutional Court continues to be without a president after eight unsuccessful attempts to elect one. The nine judges have decided "insofar as the Constitutional Court is a collective body and a chair is the first among equals" to collectively rule it until a chair is elected.