Shiroka-Pula: Constitutional Court rulings must be implemented, not treated as personal matters

The President of Kosovo, Justina Shiroka-Pula, has emphasized that the Constitutional Court must act independently and that its decisions must be respected. She said that the Constitution stands above power and that institutions, without exception, are obliged to obey the law, reports Ekonomia Online.

During the ceremony marking the 17th anniversary of the establishment of the Constitutional Court of Kosovo, Shiroka-Pula described its independence as a pillar of democracy, the rule of law, and the guarantee of citizens’ rights and freedoms.

According to the president, the Constitution sets the limits of power and ensures that it is not unlimited, while citizens’ rights do not depend on the will of public officials. She stressed that the independence of the Constitutional Court is not only a legal principle, but also a guarantee that the Constitution is protected in practice, under all circumstances and without exceptions. The Court has a special responsibility in the democratic functioning of the state, so that the Constitution remains the highest legal authority, to which all institutions are subject, Shiroka-Pula declared.

She underlined that the importance of independent courts grows in times of political crises, when institutions are under pressure and constitutional principles are put to the test. In such cases, they ensure that power is exercised within the limits defined by the Constitution. For Kosovo, as a young state, the Constitutional Court holds special importance and its decisions must be respected, not personalized, regardless of political consequences.

Shiroka-Pula mentioned the experience of the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany and other European courts, as well as the expertise of the Venice Commission, as valuable sources for examining common challenges, developing legal dialogue, and strengthening standards that protect the constitutional order. She added that experiences may differ, but the principles are shared. According to her, democracy is not measured by the absence of limits on power, but by the willingness to respect them: when the Constitution stands above power, citizens’ rights are more secure, and when institutions submit to it, democracy becomes stronger.