Elections in several municipalities are being postponed

The Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on Local Self-Government, which postpone elections in several Montenegrin municipalities.

For the reason for the urgency of the entry into force of the Law on the day of publication in the Official Gazette, 45 deputies voted, and 16 were against.

Miloš Konatar's (URA) amendment became an integral part of the Law, and it stipulates that the elections will be held no later than October 30, instead of, as previously defined, to be held on October 30.

The session is also attended by MPs from the now opposition parties - Democratic Front (Nova, DNP, PzP, Workers' Party) and Democratic Montenegro, who boycotted the session in Cetinje when a new minority government was formed and Danijela Đurović (SNP) was elected as the president of the Assembly.

MPs from DF, Democrats, Prava and United Montenegro are now sitting in the left part of the hall in relation to the president, which, according to previous practice, is reserved for the opposition. Until recently, the DPS MPs, who are now on the right, sat there.

The parliamentary clubs of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Socialist People's Party (SNP), "Black on White" (URA and CIVIS), the Bosniak Party (BS) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP) submitted to the Assembly on April 28 an initiative requesting amendments of the Law on Local Self-Government, in order to postpone the holding of local elections in several municipalities to October 30 this year.

Amendments to the proposal of the Law request the postponement of elections in Pljevlje, Rožaje, Plav, Tivat, Budva, Plužine, Žabljak, Bijelo Polje, Šavnik, Bar, Danilovgrad, Kolašin, the capital Podgorica and in the Assembly of the Municipality of Golubovci - a municipality within the capital city.

Koprivica: An unprecedented act and an insult to the law

Momo Koprivica (Democrats) said that if anyone can behave as they want, it generates a deformation of the political system with unfathomable consequences for society.

He assessed that this proposal is an unprecedented act and is diametrically different from all previous similar proposals.

He said that this proposal is "an insult to the law" and that it is not about unification but about postponing the elections.

"It defines the date of the election, no bill previously provided for the possibility of fixing the date of the election," said Koprivica.

He said that this "anti-law" proposal does not foresee the extension of the mandate of the Municipal Assemblies whose mandates have expired, and in Budva and Tivat, where forced administration was introduced, the boards of trustees already exist and are functioning, so the temporary solution of forced administration is collapsing.

Miloš Konatar (Crno na bijelo) on behalf of the proposer of the proposal said that the proposal is not new.

"This same law, with the same intention to postpone the elections, was proposed in November. Delays were requested in Petnjica, Cetinje and Mojkovac. In January, too, we had the initiative to postpone the elections in Ulcinj and Berane and hold them with elections in a group of municipalities," Konatar said.

He said that the proponents are ready to correct the norm, so that the election date is not explicitly determined.

"If it is corrected, I expect that other colleagues will also support this solution," said Konatar.

Đurović said that the hearing on this point will last three hours.

Koprivica reacted to Konatar's presentation and said that he would never sign such an act.

"We signed the proposal on the unification of elections. The problem is not in this law, we don't mind the election date, but the problem is the deformation of the political system and abuse of rights. This is not about unification, but about postponing the elections, if they wanted to unify them, they would have held them in June," said Koprivica, whom Đurović addressed as "deputy" and not "president".

DPS MP Predrag Sekulić officially proposed the correction of the norm related to the date of the election.

He suggested that the norm should read "that the elections be held by October 30".

He said that there is no problem when it comes to the mandate of councilors, because according to the law, their mandate lasts until new ones are elected.

"As far as the creditors' committee is concerned, I think this is a more rational solution," said Sekulić.

He expects that the Committee for Electoral Reform will finish its work and determine that the mandate of councilors lasts for four years "whether they agree or not".

Radunović: You are aware that you would do poorly in the elections

Slaven Radunović (DF) explained why they were not at the session in Cetinje on April 28.

"That session was illegitimately scheduled, it was done by force," Radunović said.

He added that the new government will make certain solutions, laws and decisions, and they decided not to boycott the work of the parliament, so that part of the winning majority from August 30 would not be further prevented from influencing political trends.

He repeated that one of the reasons why they were not in Cetinje was that some local politicians tried to relativize the incident with the children "who sang Serbian songs".

Commenting on the amendments to the Law on Local Self-Government, he said that there is only talk about elections "not being held now".

"I understand that it is not the right moment for you, if you are aware that you would do poorly in the elections, I understand that politically. But I don't understand that you are ready to go so far, to insist on postponing the elections that were scheduled in an extraordinary manner and to extend the forced administration in Budva and Tivat. It is incomprehensible," said Radunović.

He said that everyone should ask themselves where they live and that it is time to "declare war on organized crime".

"All the levers of the state are poisoned. Our institutions of the system to which the EU directed us to complain are Vesna Medenica, Milivoje Katnić, Dejan Peruničić, Milović, the Lazović family. That is the Montenegro of the DPS... If you from the minority government wanted to deceive the DPS, to vote for you the Government and the representative and say thank you, we will now conduct our own politics, I take my hat off to you. And if you really rely on the fact that the DPS will support you in cracking down on the DPS in institutions, then you are naive and sold Montenegro for a couple of official positions. If you amortize these events together with them, then you are worse than them, they took the money and you will be fools", Radunović said.

He said that the DF will not allow the Judicial Council, the VDT, and the Constitutional Court, which are elected by the DPS, to be elected without them.

"If two-thirds are needed, there is a Front for two-thirds, but with the condition that Katnić and Medenica cannot pass," said Radunović.

Bogdanović: If the law enters into force, any dialogue on electoral reform will be over

Dragan Vukić (SNP) pointed out that they advocated for that legal solution from the first day, even while they were in the opposition.

"This legal solution was supported by almost all parties in the parliament in the previous period. "Why there was a change of opinion is a question that is not for us," Vukić said.

Boris Bogdanović (Democrats) said that the Government building has become a classic parking place for politicians complicated by a bad election result.

"We promise the citizens that we will erase them from the political map, we will not leave them a cent or a percentage," said Bogdanović.

He stated that this bill is translated "as running away from the election of the people's court, as cowardice and vain hope that the people have a short memory".

"The circus performers proposed this kind of law, which defines the date of the election and for the first time derogates the powers of the president in this way," said Bogdanović, who also addressed President Đurović from the title of "deputy".

He said that if this law enters into force, for the Democrats, all dialogue on electoral reform is over and all Democratic deputies will resign from the Committee on Electoral Reform.

Bogdanović said that the Law cannot apply to the Municipalities of Golubovci and the Capital City because the mandate of councilors in those municipalities is prescribed by the Law on the Capital City.

Vuksanović Stanković: Amendments to the Constitutional Law, it is up to the president to decide whether to postpone the elections

Draginja Vuksanović Stanković (SDP) said that MPs address office holders with respect, especially if they are women, noting that Democrat MPs addressed Đurović as "MP", not as "President".

"Is it because she is a woman?" asked Vuksanović Stanković.

Bogdanović explained that Đurović is being addressed as "MP" because she was elected president at an illegitimate session.

Vuksanović Stanković said that the amendments to the Law are in accordance with the Constitution, and it is up to the President of the State to decide whether to postpone them or not.

"This law is based on the Constitution and the overriding public interest that is above any other law," explained Vuksanović Stanković.

During the discussion, she responded to the chemistry professor from Bar, stating that she has the findings of the educational inspection and that there is no evidence that her diploma has been certified.

Radulović: Elections to be held in one day, to introduce open lists

Branko Radulović (PzP) congratulated Đurović on his position and wished him a "good meal" since he was not at the session in Cetinje, "because he could not go alone, because he would have been accused".

"I'm sorry I wasn't there, because I would have told them that it's not Montenegrin, liberal or Katunian to treat children like that, because they are songs of multi-ethnic Montenegro. It is not appropriate to sing imported songs, which Thompson sings, it was never sung in Montenegro, but I think that these are individuals," said Radulović.

He said that the 30-year legacy of one government is extremely fraught, that the previous government was sterile or not sufficiently reformist, but everyone was in favor of its removal.

"I invite you to think about what are the optimal results and actions, to leave a trace of something good for Montenegro from this situation, or to be forgotten or never repeated," said Radulović.

He announced that he will offer reform solutions, and criticize anything that falls short of that.

Radulović said that in order to hold all the elections in one day, he is in favor of introducing open lists.

"If we agree, if we are going to restart Montenegro on a healthy basis, there must be radical reforms, we must kill the octopus. And Dritan (Abazović) does not have the basic laws that should enable this, what about the examination of the origin of the property?", asked Radulović.

He believes that the Bill can be viewed from two points of view.

"Is he the goal of politicking, interests and protection of some sins committed in the past 30 years, or is he the product of something that is ours to consume," said Radulović.

He added that he knows Đukanović well and he will calculate between "his sins and democratic steps forward", and as for Abazović, he believes that he is guided by "youth, élan and honesty".

"I believe in that, because then everything would turn upside down," said Radulović.

He said that it is up to the proponents to withdraw the bill, and time will tell everything.

"Public interest to vote on the same day"

Ivan Brajović (SD) said that everyone agrees that elections should be held in one day. This, he says, is also in the interest of the citizens of Montenegro, and the best way to achieve it, he believes, is through the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform and solutions that would bring the story of elections in one day.

"Obviously, there is no readiness here to agree on the Law on the Election of Councilors and Members of Parliament. If there was readiness, it could have been done in the earlier convocation of the Parliament," said Brajović.

Miloš Konatar (GP URA) submitted an amendment to the Bill regarding the date of the election.

The law now states that elections are held "on the same day, and no later than October 30."

"Since dilemmas arose as to whether we can determine the exact date of the election, I, as one of the proponents, submitted an amendment. "The date of the election has not been explicitly determined, it is left to the president to determine the date," Konatar said.

He added that it is in the public interest that citizens vote in local elections on the same day.

Jovanka Laličić (DPS) hopes that the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform will intensify its activity after the stabilization of the political situation and very soon offer innovative electoral laws.

DF MP Janko Milatović said that this proposal avoids the elections in the terms set by "the one who manages our destinies", and who, with his authority, was able to place them all in June.

"He knew that this would be voted on, and he particularly insults my intelligence that yesterday he scheduled the elections in Pljevlja for July 3," said Milatović.

Daliborka Pejović (DPS) stated that all of this could have been resolved through the Electoral Reform Committee if there had been the will and that more citizens had become bored with this story.

Momo Koprivica (Democrats) asked why the party of Milo Đukanović "didn't ask his boss" to consolidate the elections by calling them on one day in June.

“No. they arranged for the elections to be held in October, in order to escape from the citizens' court," said Koprivica.

Budimir Aleksić (DF) began his presentation with "Dear citizens of Colombia on the Adriatic".

"There are clear political motives here, it's about running away from elections. If the elections were held now or in June, those parties would not have even a third of the votes they received in the last elections," said Aleksić.

Dragan Bojović (DF) warned that this was introducing a legal precedent, so that any new majority could change the dates of the elections as it pleased.

Bečić: A blow to the dialogue between the government and the opposition

Former Speaker of the Parliament Aleksa Bečić (Democrats) said that Montenegro, despite everything negative in recent months, shows that it is a wonderland.

"This is evidenced by the latest events. Deputies, contrary to the Constitution, convened a session where they made the most important decisions in a society. Today we have a Government in which we do not have representatives of 90 percent of the citizens, and it is made up of parties that have more ministers than deputies and a Government that was elected contrary to Article 2 of the Constitution, because those who lost in the elections and who have admitted that they are losers cannot return to power. . Those who lost the elections cannot return to power in democratic systems without elections," said Bečić.

As he added, it should not be surprising that in a sea of ​​miracles, such amendments to the Law on Local Self-Government appear and that this proposal is not the same as his.

"Dialogue was bypassed, there was no discussion with the opposition and no dialogue at the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform," said Bečić.

He added that in this law the election date is determined, the duration of the councilor's mandate is not defined, and forced administration is being extended illegally.

"I informed the public and the head of the EU Delegation that, if such a proposal is adopted and comes to life, the Democrats' deputies will resign from their membership in the Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform, because I believe that such a proposal is a direct shot and a blow to the dialogue between the government and the opposition on matters of we need a qualified majority," said Bečić.

Bulatović: Ivanović is the main ideologist of the SNP, not Joković

Milosava Paunović (SNP) said that her party has in its program and campaigns for elections in all municipalities, an item of unifying elections in Montenegro, for the start of local elections.

She reminded that this kind of proposal has a long history, it was proposed several times, and they should have adopted the first proposal.

"We should have agreed then and adopted the first proposal. This does not solve the problem permanently, we failed to consolidate all the elections because elections were held in some municipalities... It is a shame for all of us that we cannot come to an agreement", said Paunović.

Predrag Bulatović (DF) stated that the "father of our nations and nationalities" Josip Broz Tito said "one should not stick to the law like a drunkard".

"Now we have the father of the nation and nationalities again, and that is Milo Đukanović. "From today, with the adoption of this law, politics and law cease to exist," said Bulatović.

He added that, "as it is, as it is", he will send a request for a temporary measure to the Constitutional Court, so let them refuse, and they will know what to do and how to "force them to oppose".

In a discussion with Dragan Ivanović (SNP) about what the Socialist People's Party was like when he and Momir Bulatović were at its head, he said that it was a movement that wanted to destroy the mafia in Montenegro.

Ivanović said that Bulatović was expelled from the party, and Bulatović replied that he was not expelled, but that it was a schism.

"This is another SNP. You chose your path, but (Vladimir) Joković is not the main one, you are the main ideologue", said Bulatović.

"It is not known who is the position and who is the opposition"

Andrija Popović (LP) said that this law should have been adopted three months ago, although it was returned by the president.

"But what happened happened. "The Parliament broke up, the Government broke up, the work of the Parliament was blocked, and I believe that we will succeed now in what we failed to do then, to unify local elections," said Popović.

Vladan Raičević (PzP) believes that this proposal had room for adoption within a reasonable time frame, but due to the inconsistency of the moves of the president and the parliament and the different interests of the political elites, it was sent back for reconsideration.

"The mentioned inconsistency is repeated, the president has called almost all the elections, which is why we are sure that this time too he will not violate the Constitution... I have no doubt that the Constitutional Court, if this proposal is voted on, will see the appearance of unconstitutionality and legality," he said. Raičević.

Nikola Janović (DPS) stated that holding elections in June and July would be against the recommendations of the European Commission, but we should also think about the tourist season.

"We should all think about the tourist season and relieve citizens, given the state of the economy after a year and a half of the previous government," Janović said.

Adnan Striković (SDP) said that the dilemma remains - whether everyone is in favor of holding elections in one day.

"If we are, then I would ask those who think that they propose the ones that are more legal. What someone proposed is wrong and not in accordance with the law. Today is May 5th, and if we had announced the elections today, they could only be held on July 5th," said Striković.

Marko Milačić (True Montenegro) said that "everything that comes from betrayal is betrayal, everything that comes from injustice is injustice, everything that comes from fraud is fraud" and this is the same today.

"We see everything today, with whom the parliamentary majority was formed...some people did not like Zdravko Krivokapić, and today they like Zoran Lazović." They didn't like (Vesna) Bratić, and today they like those people who were intimates of Belivuk," said Milačić.

Vladimir Dobričanin (United Montenegro) said that he did not know whether to hold a minute of silence for democracy, because the three minutes he has to speak are not enough to send a message to democracy in Montenegro.

"I did not come to break the law. The law is not above you above me, what kind of message are you sending to the people, are we going to break the law more or less? This is bad luck, are we going to anarchy? Here, everyone deals with crime, from the VDT, supreme judges, to the top of the police, are you aware of what is happening in the country?" asked Dobričanin.

He added that neither the position nor the opposition is known here.

"You want to postpone the elections. How? Come on, don't postpone the elections for October 30, but for 2027, then rule for ten years. Just remember, this people gathered once, they will gather again, and then there is no going back," said Dobričanin.

Andrija Nikolić (DPS) said that citizens should be allowed to have time to prepare for the tourist season because that's what they live on, and try to find valid solutions through the Electoral Reform Committee.

"No one runs away from the court of the public, nor the election... There will be an election, no one will hide from the court of the public, citizens will have their say." The Assembly needs dialogue, it needs the Committee for Electoral Reform and a constructive approach of all political actors in order to reach common solutions", said Nikolić.

He added that those who announce that they will ignore the dialogue are directly working against what are European obligations and obligations from the European agenda of EU accession. Maksim Vučinić (Labor Party) said that this is an unconstitutional and freak law, whose proponents want to pass it by force in the Parliament.

"This is giving time for the legislators in the new seats to consolidate and mobilize state resources until the elections," said Vučinić.

Discussion of "crimes"

Lidija Kljajić (DPS) said that citizens deserve unified elections and that they know when they will be held.

In the discussion with Dobričanin about who will take power in Berane, she asked him how many places he votes in and in how many countries.

"Me in one, in this one. And I have the citizenship of Serbia by law. Don't ask me, ask your relatives why they love Belgrade so much and buy real estate there," said Dobričanin.

He added that it is not her fault, but those who "give DPS oxygen" and that the party "will be responsible for all the crimes it has committed".

Andrija Nikolić reacted by stating that this country gave refuge to Dobričan and that he had much greater rights than those he had under any previous regime.

The discussion with Dobričanin, due to the aforementioned crime, continued even after Đurović took a short break. After DPS deputy Miomir M. Mugoša got up from his seat and approached Dobričanin, more deputies came to calm the situation.

The man from Dobričan said that everything is fine and that they are just talking. Assembly security is also on alert.

In the conversation with Mugoša, Dobričanin said that when he said "crime" he meant it in a political sense.

He said that he came to the place where his grandfather was buried and that he came as a "ready-made man" who had done a lot.

MPs should also comment on the amendments to the Law on State Administration, which stipulate that ministries can have a maximum of three state secretaries. These changes were initiated by MP Miloš Konatar (GP URA).

The SEC confirmed the parliamentary mandates of Mustafić, Zenka, Striković and Božović

The Speaker of the Parliament informed that the State Election Commission (SEC) confirmed the parliamentary mandates of Suljo Mustafić (Bosniak Party - BS), Mehmed Zenka (Albanian Coalition "Unanimous"), Adnan Striković (Social Democratic Party - SDP) and Bogdan Božović (Socialist People's Party) - SNP).

This marked the beginning of their parliamentary mandate.

Vladimir Dobričanin (United) informed the parliament that he resigned from the DF Parliamentary Club.

Mustafić, the former vice-president of the Assembly, will replace Ervin Ibrahimović, also the recent vice-president of the parliament, who is the new minister of capital investments and vice-president of the government for regional development. Zenka, the leader of the Democratic Union of Albanians, will succeed Fatmir Đeka, who is the Minister of Human and Minority Rights, while Striković will replace Raško Konjević, the Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System and Internal Policy.

Božović enters parliament instead of SNP leader Vladimir Joković, who was elected Minister of Agriculture and Deputy Prime Minister for the Economic System. The SEC forwarded the decision to the Assembly, which will state that the mandate of the new MPs has begun.

42 MPs voted for the agenda, while eight voted against it.