Skopje, 9 May 2024 (MIA) - After the official election results, a parliamentary session on the inauguration of the newly elected President Gordana Siljanovska Davkova should be convened on May 12 at the latest. Before taking up office, she is to make a solemn declaration before the Assembly of her commitment to respect the Constitution and the laws. The term of the incumbent President, who ran for a second term, Stevo Pendarovski, expires on May 12. 

Incumbent Parliament Speaker Jovan Mitreski is to convene the session for the inauguration of the new President. Mitreski told a press briefing at the end of March that this will be one of the last activities of the current composition of the Parliament, before the constitution of the new parliamentary composition.

Based on the Constitution, the President of the Republic is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. The President of the Republic exercises his/her rights and duties on the basis and within the framework of the Constitution and laws. The President is elected in general and direct elections, by secret ballot, for a term of five years.  

A candidate is elected President if he/she wins a majority of the votes of those who voted, provided more than half of the registered voters voted.

The election of the President of the Republic takes place within the last 60 days of the term of the previous President. Should the term of office of the President of the Republic be terminated for any reason, the election of a new President takes place within 40 days from the day of termination.

Before taking up office, the President of the Republic makes a solemn declaration before the Parliament of his/her commitment to respect the Constitution and the laws.

In case of death, resignation, permanent inability to perform his/her duties, or in case of termination of the mandate in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution, the office of the President of the Republic is carried out by the Parliament Speaker until the election of the new President.

Decisions on the applicability of the conditions, for the cessation of office of the President of the Republic, are the official duty of the Constitutional Court.

The duty of the President of the Republic is incompatible with the performance of any other public office, profession or appointment in a political party. The President of the Republic is granted immunity. The Constitutional Court decides by a two-thirds majority vote of the total number of judges on any case for withholding immunity and approving of detention for the President of the Republic.

The President of the Republic of Macedonia nominates a mandator to constitute the Government of the Republic of Macedonia; appoints and dismisses by decree ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Macedonia abroad; accepts the credentials and letters of recall of foreign diplomatic representatives; proposes two judges to sit on the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Macedonia; proposes two members of the Republican Judicial Council; appoints three members to the Security Council of the Republic of Macedonia;- proposes the members of the Council for Inter-Ethnic Relations; appoints and dismisses other holders of state and public office determined by the Constitution and the law; grants decorations and honours in accordance with the law; grants pardons in accordance with the law; and performs other duties determined by the Constitution.

The President of the Republic addresses the Assembly on issues within his/her sphere of competence at least once a year. The Assembly may request the President of the Republic to state an opinion on issues within his/her sphere of competence. 

The President of the Republic is President of the Security Council of the Republic of Macedonia. The Security Council of the Republic is composed of the President of the Republic, the President of the Assembly, the Prime Minister, the Ministers heading the bodies of state administration in the fields of security, defence and foreign affairs and three members appointed by the President of the Republic.

The Council considers issues relating to the security and defence of the Republic and makes policy proposals to the Assembly and the Government.

The President is held accountable for any violation of the Constitution in exercising his/her rights and duties. The procedure for determining the President of the Republic's answerability is initiated by the Assembly with a two-thirds majority vote of all Representatives. It is the Constitutional Court that decides on the answerability of the President by a two-thirds majority vote of all judges.

If the Constitutional Court considers the President answerable for a violation, his/her mandate is terminated by the force of the Constitution.

Photo: MIA