At today's session, the Parliament appointed Gordana Kalezić and Milan Remiković as Vice Governors of the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG).
Kalezić received the support of 59 MPs, including the opposition, while Remiković received the support of 60. There were no votes against or abstentions.
They were proposed for these positions by the Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro, Irena Radović.
Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić stated that these vice governors did not pass the last vote, and that Radović spoke with all the MPs and introduced them, so they were still elected through dialogue.
The Law on CBCG, Article 46, establishes that the Council of the Supreme Monetary Institution has eight members - the governor, three vice-governors and four members who are not employed by CBCG.
Article 50 paragraph 1 stipulates that vice-governors are appointed by the Assembly, on the proposal of the governor.
Radović said that she expects the appointment of a Vice Governor and the Council of the Central Bank of Montenegro to achieve full capacity and participation in the General Council of the European Central Banks starting next year.
She added that in July she proposed Remiković and Kalezić because, based on their profession and capacity, they are worthy of these positions, and that their profiles and integrity are in line with what are the final criteria for closing the negotiation chapters.
"Kalezić is a long-time expert in the prevention of money laundering and terrorist financing, who had a rich career even before joining the Central Bank of Montenegro in 2019. She spent part of her career in management positions in the financial intelligence sector as well as in banking. She is the only expert from Montenegro who has earned the trust of MANIVAL. She was responsible for the assessment of Latvia, and is now part of the team for the assessment of Slovenia," Radović stated.
She also pointed out that Remiković built his entire career at the Central Bank of Montenegro and that he is today the Director of Bank Supervision, that he heads the team working on the equivalence process of the Montenegrin financial sector, and that she is convinced that they will further strengthen the Central Bank of Montenegro's capacity to close negotiation chapters.
"Opposition excluded, candidates proposed three times"
Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Nikola Milović emphasized that this appointment is crucial for the European path and that Kalezić and Remiković will give their support, but also that this process has shown the political bargaining of the parliamentary majority for important positions in the state.
"Last time, DPS had nothing against biographies and the European path, we voted for all laws on the European agenda, but even though the European Commission notes that vice governors must be elected transparently. Everything regarding the parliamentary majority has no basis in competences, but we can only hope that the strong institutions established before the arrival of the liberators will continue to function," said Milović.
His colleague Mihailo Andjušić added that the proposal of these candidates has been in the Assembly's drawer for more than a year, and they were previously rejected, and that part of the parliamentary majority is still not in the chamber to vote on them. He asked for an explanation of what happened in the meantime, so that Remiković and Kalezić received support.
The DPS also claims that the opposition has been excluded from the process and that things are worse than before.
Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša said that the candidates were proposed in September last year, that they were proposed three times, that the parliamentary majority had previously settled with the Central Bank of Montenegro, and that the appointment was a show that he despised.
Democratic People's Party MP Milan Knežević stated that he did not understand whether the opposition wanted Remiković and Kalezić to be elected, and asked who mediated between them and the Central Bank of Montenegro - so they were providing support. He stated that they had already voted for both candidates.
Mugoša said that he voted for Radović, even though he was labeled for it, but that he did not influence the election of the vice governor.
The Special Club of Deputies stated that the independence of the Central Bank of Montenegro is a reality that must be respected.
Support for the two candidates also came from Democratic Montenegro, with MP Zdenka Popović adding that she hopes to elect members of the CBCG Council next week. She emphasized that Remiković and Kalezić have excellent biographies, are independent, and have also proposed a member of the CBCG Council who has the same qualities.
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