Former Senator of the State Audit Institution (DRI) Nikola Kovacevic, who retired at the end of March this year, was almost on the verge of being hired again by the institution – this time through a service contract. However, the planned engagement fell through after the Commission for Analysis and Monitoring of Contracts, formed by the Government of Montenegro, did not give its consent for his return in the role of an external expert.
This was officially confirmed to "News" at the DRI.
The contract, which was to be concluded in accordance with Article 46 of the Law on the SAI, stipulated that Kovačević would provide specialist assistance in the audit of the Final Accounts of the Budget of Montenegro for 2024, in the period from April 1 to October 15, 2025 at the latest.
"Former Senator Nikola Kovacevic, is not employed by the SAI. The contract for services was concluded based on the Senate's decision to engage an external expert, and in accordance with Article 46, paragraph 1 of the SAI Law, which stipulates that "The institution may engage an external expert in the audit process, if the audit requires special specialist knowledge". The subject of the aforementioned contract for services is the provision of specialist knowledge in the audit of the Final Account of the Budget of Montenegro, for the period from 01 April 2025 until the completion of the activity in question, and no later than 15 October 2025. The Commission for the Analysis and Monitoring of Contracts for Services and Contracts for Performing Temporary and Occasional Work in Spending Units Financed from the State Budget, established by the Government of Montenegro, did not give its consent from the aspect of the justification for signing the contract", said the SAI.
As they added, considering that the SAI did not receive the Commission's consent, the agreed activities were not implemented (mutually), which means that the financial obligation to pay the agreed amount did not arise.
At the end of March, the Parliament appointed a member of the Senate of the State Audit Institution (SRI) Vesna Mihailovic who replaced Kovačević. In the Senate of the DRI, in addition to Kovačević, Milan Dabović, Zoran Jelic, Branislav Radulović i Siniša Čađenović.
The SAI has been without a Senate President since July 2022, when the nine-year term of then-President Dabović expired.
According to the Law on the SAI (Article 39), the President of the Senate presides over the Senate, represents and advocates for the Institution, and in the event of the President's absence or inability to act, the oldest member of the Senate replaces him.
In accordance with this article of the Law, Kovačević led the institution after the expiration of Dabović's mandate, and after Kovačević's retirement, Zoran Jelić, as the oldest senator, took over the management of the institution.
He was a long-time DPS MP who came into the public spotlight after a video was released in which he spoke at party offices about the employment of DPS members according to the principle of “one employee, four votes”. This affair, known in public as “The Recording”, has not yet received an epilogue in the prosecution. The European Commission, in its progress reports on Montenegro, has requested that the “The Recording” affair be shed light on.
Jelić had previously stated in March 2013 that he believed the investigation would show that the case was fabricated.
"No one is shying away from discussing the "Recording" case, in order to uncover its true background. If there is any doubt, it should be investigated," he said.
According to the SAI Law, the President is appointed for a period of nine years from among the members of the Senate who are elected to that position for life, and the same person cannot be re-appointed as President of the Senate.
Bonus video:
