The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Justina Shiroka Pula, participated at the marking of the 17th Anniversary of the Constitutional Court today.<\/p>\n
In her address to the participants, President Shiroka Pula stated that a democracy demonstrates its strength not only through the institutions it builds, but also through the limits that those in power agree to respect\u2014limits which, she noted, are defined by the Constitution.<\/p>\n
“It guarantees that no one is above the law, that power is not unlimited, and that the rights and freedoms of citizens do not depend on the will of those who exercise public authority,” said President Shiroka Pula.<\/p>\n
Therefore, according to Madam President, the independence of constitutional courts is not merely a legal principle; it is a fundamental guarantee of democracy, the rule of law, and the citizens’ confidence that the Constitution will be upheld in practice\u2014under any circumstances and without exception. \u201cIt is my pleasure to address you at this international conference, which brings us together around an issue fundamental to every democratic state: the role of constitutional courts in protecting the Constitution, fundamental rights, and the balance between institutions,\u201d emphasized President Shiroka Pula.<\/p>\n
President Shiroka Pula further noted that constitutional courts bear a special responsibility within the democratic architecture of the state.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey ensure that the Constitution does not remain merely a foundational document, but serves as the supreme legal authority to which all institutions are subject. Through their rulings, they protect fundamental rights, define the limits of authority, and guarantee adherence to the principle of the separation of powers,\u201d affirmed President Shiroka Pula.<\/p>\n
According to her, this mission becomes even more critical during times of political crisis, when pressure on institutions mounts and the observance of constitutional principles is put to the test.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is precisely at such moments that the importance of independent courts becomes evident: they ensure that the exercise of power remains within the boundaries of the Constitution,\u201d stated Madam President. She further added that for Kosovo, as a new state, the Constitutional Court holds particular importance.<\/p>\n
\u201cOver its 17 years of activity, it has contributed to the interpretation and protection of the Constitution, the resolution of constitutional matters, and the definition of the limits of institutional powers. Through its rulings, it has aided in the development of our constitutional order and the affirmation of a fundamental principle: no institution may act beyond the powers defined by the Constitution,\u201d said President Shiroka Pula.<\/p>\n
President Shiroka Pula added that a valuable democratic standard has been established in Kosovo: the decisions of the Constitutional Court are respected and not personalized, regardless of their political implications\u2014a standard which, in her view, demonstrates institutional maturity and a commitment to the rule of law. \u201cDemocracy requires not only that institutions exercise their powers, but also that they recognize and respect the limits of those powers. Accepting constitutional oversight does not weaken democratic authority; on the contrary, it lends it legitimacy and stability. Democratic maturity is demonstrated not merely when we agree with a decision, but, above all, when we respect it even when it does not align with our own interests or expectations,\u201d the President emphasized.<\/p>\n
For this reason, she added, the protection of the Constitution is a shared responsibility of all institutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe independence of constitutional courts must be accompanied by respect for their rulings, institutional accountability, and a democratic culture that places the authority of the Constitution above immediate, short-term interests. In this context, the exchange of experiences among the constitutional courts of our respective countries is of particular importance. The experience of Germany\u2019s Federal Constitutional Court and other European courts, along with the expertise of the Venice Commission, offer a valuable opportunity to discuss common challenges, deepen legal dialogue, and strengthen the standards for protecting the constitutional order,\u201d stated President Shiroka Pula. She further stated that while our experiences may differ, the principles that unite us remain the same: the independence of the judiciary, the protection of fundamental rights, the separation of powers, and respect for the Constitution. She added that cooperation between our institutions helps us uphold these principles and strengthen the foundations of European democracy.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe rule of law is measured not only by the quality of the norms we adopt, but also by the willingness to implement them equitably. Fundamental rights are not protected merely by proclaiming them, but by ensuring that every judge can effectively uphold them. Likewise, the separation of powers is guaranteed not just through constitutional provisions, but through their observance in practice,\u201d emphasized Madam President.<\/p>\n
She stated that the Constitution must stand above any interest of those in power, and that the independence of constitutional courts must be safeguarded as an essential prerequisite for democracy and the freedom of citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cUltimately, the strength of a 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\u2019 rights are more secure. When institutions are subject to the Constitution, democracy is stronger,\u201d said President Shiroka Pula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The President of the Republic of Kosovo, Justina Shiroka Pula, participated at the marking of the 17th Anniversary of the Constitutional Court today. In her address to the participants, President Shiroka Pula stated that a democracy demonstrates its strength not only through the institutions it builds, but also through the limits that those in power agree to respect\u2014limits which, she noted, are defined by the Constitution. “It guarantees that no one is above the law, that power is not unlimited, and that the rights and freedoms of citizens do not depend on the will of those who exercise public authority,” said President Shiroka Pula. Therefore, according to Madam President, the independence of constitutional courts is not merely a legal principle; it is a fundamental guarantee of democracy, the rule of law, and the citizens’ confidence that the Constitution will be upheld in practice\u2014under any circumstances and without exception. \u201cIt is my pleasure to address you at this international conference, which brings us together around an issue fundamental to every democratic state: the role of constitutional courts in protecting the Constitution, fundamental rights, and the balance between institutions,\u201d emphasized President Shiroka Pula. President Shiroka Pula further noted that constitutional courts bear a special responsibility within the democratic architecture of the state. \u201cThey ensure that the Constitution does not remain merely a foundational document, but serves as the supreme legal authority to which all institutions are subject. Through their rulings, they protect fundamental rights, define the limits of authority, and guarantee adherence to the principle of the separation of powers,\u201d affirmed President Shiroka Pula. According to her, this mission becomes even more critical during times of political crisis, when pressure on institutions mounts and the observance of constitutional principles is put to the test. \u201cIt is precisely at such moments that the importance of independent courts becomes evident: they ensure that the exercise of power remains within the boundaries of the Constitution,\u201d stated Madam President. She further added that for Kosovo, as a new state, the Constitutional Court holds particular importance. \u201cOver its 17 years of activity, it has contributed to the interpretation and protection of the Constitution, the resolution of constitutional matters, and the definition of the limits of institutional powers. Through its rulings, it has aided in the development of our constitutional order and the affirmation of a fundamental principle: no institution may act beyond the powers defined by the Constitution,\u201d said President Shiroka Pula. President Shiroka Pula added that a valuable democratic standard has been established in Kosovo: the decisions of the Constitutional Court are respected and not personalized, regardless of their political implications\u2014a standard which, in her view, demonstrates institutional maturity and a commitment to the rule of law. \u201cDemocracy requires not only that institutions exercise their powers, but also that they recognize and respect the limits of those powers. Accepting constitutional oversight does not weaken democratic authority; on the contrary, it lends it legitimacy and stability. Democratic maturity is demonstrated not merely when we agree with a decision, but, above all, when we respect it even when it does not align with our own interests or expectations,\u201d the President emphasized. For this reason, she added, the protection of the Constitution is a shared responsibility of all institutions. \u201cThe independence of constitutional courts must be accompanied by respect for their rulings, institutional accountability, and a democratic culture that places the authority of the Constitution above immediate, short-term interests. In this context, the exchange of experiences among the constitutional courts of our respective countries is of particular importance. The experience of Germany\u2019s Federal Constitutional Court and other European courts, along with the expertise of the Venice Commission, offer a valuable opportunity to discuss common challenges, deepen legal dialogue, and strengthen the standards for protecting the constitutional order,\u201d stated President Shiroka Pula. She further stated that while our experiences may differ, the principles that unite us remain the same: the independence of the judiciary, the protection of fundamental rights, the separation of powers, and respect for the Constitution. She added that cooperation between our institutions helps us uphold these principles and strengthen the foundations of European democracy. \u201cThe rule of law is measured not only by the quality of the norms we adopt, but also by the willingness to implement them equitably. Fundamental rights are not protected merely by proclaiming them, but by ensuring that every judge can effectively uphold them. Likewise, the separation of powers is guaranteed not just through constitutional provisions, but through their observance in practice,\u201d emphasized Madam President. She stated that the Constitution must stand above any interest of those in power, and that the independence of constitutional courts must be safeguarded as an essential prerequisite for democracy and the freedom of citizens. \u201cUltimately, the strength of a 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\u2019 rights are more secure. When institutions are subject to the Constitution, democracy is stronger,\u201d said President Shiroka Pula.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":18,"featured_media":195452,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_eb_attr":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[111],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-195503","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n