Parliamentary Oversight and Control in North Macedonia: Examining the Assembly's Capacity

Within the Parliamentary Support Program (PSP), a project of the Government of Switzerland under the auspices of the Parliament in Republic of North Macedonia  a new research  on "Parliamentary oversight and control viewed through the oversight capacity of the Assembly" was produced.This in-depth analysis prepared by Dr. Denis Preshova, associate professor at the   Iustinianus Primus Faculty of Law  addresses a critical research gap concerning the functioning of the Assembly of the Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) and its pivotal role in holding the executive branch and public officials accountable.

As global trends show a shift in parliamentary focus from law-making to political oversight, the effectiveness of this function has become the defining factor for a parliament's relevance and for the quality of a democracy. This research examines the foundational legal framework and instruments available to the Assembly of RNM, comparing them with practices in the Western Balkans, as well as Croatia and Slovenia, to identify core strengths and weaknesses in its capacity for political oversight and control.

Key Insights

The analysis highlights several significant aspects of parliamentary oversight in North Macedonia:

• Broad Mandate: The Constitution of North Macedonia grants the Assembly a notably broad authority, extending control and oversight not only over the Government but also over other holders of public functions accountable to the Assembly, which exceeds the scope found in most comparative parliamentary systems.
• Procedural Fragmentation: A key weakness is the fragmented procedural regulation of oversight instruments within the Assembly's Rules of Procedure, which separates instruments like parliamentary questions and interpellations from the dedicated chapter on "Parliamentary Oversight."
• Oversight Instruments: The study analyzes major instruments, including:
  • Parliamentary Questions: While the frequency of dedicated sessions is low (once a month), the Rules of Procedure provide a clear advantage to the parliamentary opposition in terms of submitting questions, offering a unique regional positive example.
  • Interpellation: The constitutional definition provides a rare and expansive scope for initiating a debate on the work of any public function holder, the Government, or state body.
• Effectiveness is Key: Ultimately, the research underscores that the overall effectiveness of oversight—which is influenced by contextual factors like political culture and the party system—is more crucial for democratic quality than the mere number or presence of available legal instruments.

This publication is a contribution to the discourse on parliamentary effectiveness, providing foundational knowledge and comparative insights for practitioners, researchers, and policymakers dedicated to strengthening democratic accountability in North Macedonia and the wider region.