The Social Democratic Union of Macedonia (SDSM) has strongly criticized the VMRO-DPMNE-led government for allegedly failing to implement the Law on the Use of the Macedonian Language. According to SDSM, this inaction demonstrates an ignorant attitude towards a fundamental aspect of Macedonian identity, culture, and statehood, especially on the 80th anniversary of the codification of the Macedonian language.

SDSM’s Professor Maja Serafimovska Borozan stated that the Inspectorate for the Use of the Macedonian Language is unable to function properly due to a lack of harmonization with the Law on Inspection Supervision. She added that the Inspectorate lacks employed inspectors, only having a party director from VMRO-DPMNE.

Furthermore, SDSM claims that the current government has discontinued several initiatives previously supported by SDSM, including the “Draw in Macedonian” competition, and has failed to provide new employment opportunities for proofreaders or scholarships for students.

In contrast, SDSM highlighted its own past efforts to protect and promote the Macedonian language, including securing official recognition of the language internationally and within the EU through the agreement with FRONTEX. They also cited investments in the digitalization of card files at the Institute of Macedonian Language, the digitization of the Explanatory Dictionary and Orthography, and the employment of scientists at the Institute.

SDSM is urging the government to fulfill its legal obligations under the Law on the Use of the Macedonian Language immediately. They emphasize that opening the Inspectorate, employing proofreaders, and providing scholarships are not partisan issues but matters of national duty.