Tonight, the Assembly adopted amendments to the Law on the President, with the votes of 41 deputies of the old-new majority, that is, DF, Democrats, SNP, GP URA, United and True Montenegro.
He was against Genci Nimanbegu (Forca). Other MPs were not in the hall (SD, SDP), while DPS, BS and Mehmed Zenka (DUA) left the hall before the vote.
Fifthly, the existence of public interest was adopted in relation to the retroactive effect of the law and the reason for urgency, i.e. to enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Gazette.
Danijel Živković (DPS) said that the Club of DPS deputies will not participate in the vote.
"This is a test for the institutions, that is, the state prosecutor's office, which I invite to review whether there are elements of a criminal offense in the actions of the parliamentary majority, the President of the Assembly," said Živković.
After that, MPs from DPS, BS and Mehmed Zenka (DUA) left the hall.
In his closing speech, Predrag Bulatović pointed out that after a long discussion, a solution can be reached, that is, a law that is the result of an agreement between 41 deputies of the old-new parliamentary majority and which is the basis for Miodrag Lekić to form a government from DF, Democrats, GP URA , SNP, CIVIS, and he hopes that the minorities will be ready to join the new government.
"This is not a law for Milo or Lekić, but for Montenegro," he said.
He said that what was said today "that civil peace is threatened", that it is anarchy, that force is mentioned, will be understood as inexperience and not knowing how to deal with the given situation.
"Montenegro is being destroyed by the fact that there is no mandate, that the government is not allowed to be formed, that the processes are not allowed. It is true that the institutions of the system have collapsed, but the Judicial Council was collapsed much earlier unconstitutionally and many erosions of the rule of law are due to the Judicial Council. Everything started with the Constitutional Court during your time...", said Bulatović.
Andrija Mandić (DF) said that a great fear, defiance, hatred was registered here today, which is not good.
He said that this law is equal for everyone, it is in accordance with the Constitution and allows the government to be constituted.
"I cannot accept today's naive attempts to divide and quarrel with the parliamentary majority... We managed to find a common language within the parliamentary majority. What do you think, if we had blackmailed the Democrats or GP URA, or some other party, if we could have shall we impose something?", he asked.
He said that it is not true that they are afraid of the Europe Movement now and that is why they are running away from the elections.
"Well, we are talking with them tomorrow about the constitution of the authorities in Podgorica and Danilovgrad... It is good that you are praising Europe now because they took the most votes from the DPS", he stated.
He asked why there is a convulsive struggle at the DPS to continue the continuity of power for 30 years, and that among those who have not been in power for 30 years.
Mandić said that the people broke in the 2020 elections, and the victory of the parties opposed to the DPS is even more convincing in the local elections.
He said that after the adoption of the law, he will make all the necessary agreements regarding the government within the deadline.
Aleksa Bečić (Democrats) said that there is no doubt that the Constitution prescribed and that the obligation was to assign a mandate for the composition of the government.
"I expected today that we would not raise tensions. Tensions were raised today and I fear that they will not remain there...", said Bečić.
He said that for two years there has been constant resistance to reforms and an attempt to create artificial extremism as an attempt to homogenize part of the electorate.
"Today we hear tirades and moral, legal and political lessons... and a few months ago I heard that the important majority is who has 41 deputies. That was the basis for illegally and illegitimately conducting processes in Cetinje and in part of the Zeta laws," he said. is Becic.
He said that labels should not be distributed so easily, especially not to Democrats.
"We didn't bring the Russians here, nor did we make agreements with Deripaska, nor did our closest coalition partner accuse us of siphoning 800 million euros from KAP...I didn't sign the agreement with United Russia, SNS..." Becic said.
He told the DPS not to worry about the results of the Democrats in the elections and they are proud of their mandates, which are clean and not the result of the power centers... "You cannot take a step forward, every step for these two years was a step for you. back," Becic said.
Andrija Nikolić (DPS) said that the parliament was demolished today in an attempt to destroy the institution of the president.
"Probably, after this, the question will arise whether it makes sense to participate in the work of the Assembly, and discussions will be held on that topic," he announced.
He added that the head of state is the person with the greatest political legitimacy in Montenegro, because the citizens elected him.
"You tried to regulate the constitutional area by law... This does not exist in African countries, which have never experienced democracy. Tomorrow is a new day and let the citizens take into account what we discussed, let them carefully weigh the strength of one and the other arguments." Nikolić said.
The debate on amendments to the Law on the President continued, after a break that lasted 45 instead of 15 minutes.
Assembly President Danijela Đurović took a 15-minute break after she could not stop the heated discussion between Budimir Alaksić and the DPS MP.
Aleksić, responding to Aleksandra Vuković who called DF the servants of Russia and Serbia, said that Milo Đukanović did not distance himself from Slobodan Milošević when he was in the opposition, and that after that he was "on cannabis with Nasser Keljmendi, who said so himself ".
Genci Nimanbegu (Forca) said that the law would be acceptable to him if it were valid from the next parliamentary elections.
He commented on the part of the law that refers to the appointment of ambassadors, saying that the position of governments cannot be imposed on who should be an ambassador.
Vladimir Martinović (Democrats), responding to Aleksandra Vuković's calls as to why they did not declare themselves on the law, said that their first priority was the change of government and they did not compete with their colleagues to see who would get more.
"We have shown that Democratic Montenegro is a pillar of change in almost all cities in Montenegro, and we are very proud of that... It was not Aleksa Bečić and the Democrats who signed the agreement with the United Russia party, but the DPS," he said.
Predrag Bulatović announced that the amendments of the DF (three amendments) foresee 18 changes of positions in order to improve the text.
He said that in Article 7f, it was proposed to delete the position "failure to perform the duties of the president in the process of determining the mandate in accordance with this law is considered a reason for his dismissal", respecting the discussion and the irrational fear that they will replace Đukanović.
Amendment number three, submitted by DF MPs Predrag Bulatović, Maja Vukićević and Branka Bošnjak, foresees an exception in the application of Article 7f, so "the mandate given by the majority of MPs of the 27th convocation of the Assembly for the composition of the 44th government has the deadlines from Article 7f of this law begin to run on the day of entry into force of the law".
Branka Bošnjak (DF) said that the development of events since the change of government in 2020 led to the renaissance of democracy and the disruption of apparent institutional stability.
She said that this exposed the true nature of the problem, that is, the insufficiency of legal solutions - laws were made that corresponded to the then parliamentary majority.
"Whoever digs a hole for another, falls into it himself," said Bošnjak.
She believes that the president deliberately violated the Constitution because he knew that he was losing his majority in the Constitutional Court and that he could not be dismissed, as well as to buy time until the presidential elections.
Bošnjak said that changes to the Law on the President were proposed so that it would not slide into anarchy or, even more difficult, into a dictatorship.
Jovan Vučurović (DF) said that there is no need for tensions, everything can be said with nice words.
He said that "DF's embrace is not radioactive", as could be heard, but "the embrace of love, dialogue", and that he could say that the DPS's embrace is "the embrace of crime, the mafia...", but he it doesn't say that.
"It doesn't even occur to me to say that Milo Đukanović is the head of the mafia," he said.
Živković replied that he, too, "doesn't think of saying that there are terrorists in DF".
Predrag Bulatović (DF) said that Đukanović brought the country into legal chaos and is now inciting riots.
"I call on Đukanović to confess that there is anarchy in Montenegro. Let him say that he will respond to anarchy with force," said Bulatović.
He said that since '97. Đukanović is trying to reach the majority in similar ways.
Milan Knežević (DF) said that there will be a vote on the law, and if the DPS wants to prevent it, let them throw a bottle at Branko Radulović or him, tear out the keyboard...
"That's how it's done," Knežević said.
He said that with these proposed changes to the law, they do not "intend to throw Đukanović out of the presidency building", but only want him to return to the constitutional framework.
DPS MP Predrag Sekulić stated that the Constitution is the highest legal act and that all laws must be in accordance with it.
"What you want with this law is legal usurpation," said Sekulić.
Miodrag Lekić (Demos) said that he believes that the candidate for the mandate belonged to someone else in the coalition.
"There was, however, a consensus regarding me," he said, reacting to Pejović's allegations that she could not believe that the parliamentary majority would spend Lekić like this.
Lekić said that he believes that the law was made correctly and that it is the answer to the usurpation of the Constitution.
"It is not the president who gives the mandate, he is obliged to propose something... Everything is very clear, and this is the answer to realizing democracy," said Lekić.
He proposed to both the authorities and the opposition to find a measure to bring the president back within the framework of the Constitution.
He added that the fact that the majority has its own candidate for the mandate cannot be ignored.
Pejović replied that the story was problematic only because of one day, in which it was said "either a complete dogvoor, or there is no agreement".
"In the letter sent by DF deputies to the president of the country, it is said that all majority parties will submit signatures on time. It did not happen," said Pejović.
Lekić said that it is true that there were inaccuracies, but there is no deadline...
He threw Mitrović from the spot, to which Lekić told him that he was behaving like a jerk.
"Leave the language of threats, the language of insults...", he said.
Mitrović asked for a reply, stating that Lekić had called him a "drip".
Branka Bošnjak said that Mitrović threw from the spot and did not give a warning, because she is tolerant.
She said that Lekić gave the qualification in general, referring to rank. She told Mitrović not to throw tantrums or challenge his colleagues.
Mitrović told Bosniak that this "will be the first and last time she addresses him like that."
"This is your classic abuse of the place where you sit and you do it continuously...Mr. Lekić, I have never treated anyone, not even you...that you euphorically, thinking that you are already the prime minister, started to do justice, it's a failure this time. Didn't you wonder if you could be prime minister because you're over 67 years old, didn't you wonder why the president didn't call you?" he asked.
Lekić said that the tension developed by DPS is transmitted to the other speakers.
He said that his age does not measure him and that he feels capable of resisting anyone, "especially aggressive, rude ones as well."
Živković said that there is no need for such discussions and "calls for a duel".
Milan Knežević said that he wants his colleague Lekić to live 100 years, but he is worried about the DPS's concern for Lekić.
Responding to calls from the DPS that DF kicked out Lekić, he said that this was not true and that they had parted ways correctly.
"Of course, this is how everyone burned and abused Miodrag Lekić as DF," said Knežević.
Budimir Aleksić (DF) said that the law is a defense against the tyranny, autocracy of Milo Đukanović and the mafia, to which Danijel Živković responded by stating that these qualifications are inappropriate.
There was a more heated discussion, because Aleksić explained from the spot what he wanted to say, and that the DPS MPs should listen better.
Aleksandra Vuković added that it was a shame what the DF MPs were saying.
Milan Knežević (DF) stated that they heard the most heinous insults from DPS, that they are traitors, foreign mercenaries, and the chairman did not react.
He called on colleagues from DPS not to resort to punitive retorts, because there was no basis for that.
Nikola Janović (DPS) said that "if they want to trample on the Constitution and change the substance of the state, they must understand that no democratic response will be possible."
Daliborka Pejović (DPS) asked in which direction the institution of the president of the state is being pushed.
"I'm not thinking about Đukanović, but about any president who is directly elected by the citizens," said Pejović.
Boris Mugoša (SD) said that it was not enough for his colleagues to caricature the Constitution, but they also deliberately wrote the constitutional norms differently in their law.
Mugoša said that with this law, the function of the President of Montenegro, whoever he may be, is reduced to one ficus and that any official with a stamp can perform it. He said that "hit on hits" is the latest norm - that the parliament nominates a candidate. Mugoša said that it took political courage for someone to sign this.
Branko Radulović (PzP) said that he sees things in a global context and that there have never been more problems than in this time.
"I thought two years ago that what happened in other countries in the 90s would happen, that we would move to something called a functional democracy, a European perspective... The European Parliament said that secret files must be opened, that someone unworthy cannot be engaged in a profession of social interest, to audit and review everything that happened 30 years ago", he stated.
He added that for 30 years he fought against the tycoons who squandered their privileges and acquired enormous wealth.
"Who is against us to carry out revisions, to build democratic institutions, to go on a democratic path?...What kind of Russophiles, what kind of Vučić? I stayed and was a Montenegrin until the end, but I have my own vision of how to make the transition. two governments, we were unworthy of the historic task. This is the last chance," he said.
He stated that if there is a parliamentary majority, the mandate can last four years, and it can be shortened.
"If we don't create a reformist, pro-Montenegro, pro-European government that will save us, elections should be called immediately," said Radulović.
He said that the biggest Montenegrins abroad were proofreaders of this law.
"There is something called legal logic. Not all the variations of life can be translated into the Constitution...If there is not a third reform government, I will be the first to stand up and overthrow it, I swear to you all," said Radulović.
Ivan Mitrović (DPS) told Radunović not to teach them a moral lesson.
"If you know something about someone, please say it in front of the Montenegrin public," he said.
Draginja Vuksanović Stanković (SDP) called on the President of the Assembly Danijela Đurović to resign.
"She should not have allowed herself to be used by the DF like a snake and a frog... The law you proposed is a scandal. The law directly derogates the powers of the president and the institution of the president is reduced to zero. You are not working in the interest of Montenegro, but in the interest of Alexander Vučić", she stated.
After hurling insults at the DF deputy, she told Janko Milatović to put his finger away from her, because if he starts arguing with him, "he will see what will happen to him".
She said that they cannot tell her that she is standing on the side of Milo Đukanović.
"I was the only one who stopped him in 2018, and you never," she said.
She added that the DF is not to blame for the fact that "Dritan Abazović overpowered them" and that he wants to be prime minister.
Slaven Radunović (DF) said that some ran away from the colors of the DPS and the name of Milo Đukanović in the local elections.
"Today, they want to teach the class that something is constitutional or not constitutional. You, who registered 300 people from other towns in one small Šavnik to vote. You, whose feathers from the judiciary are in prison...You, who are from citizens were brutally punished in the last elections," said Radunović.
He added that this is an attempt by the ruling majority to deal with the obstructions of Milo Đukanović, who has lost state power, is losing local power and is disappearing in the political sense.
"So that one man, alienated from the people, would not capture the country. That's all it's about. This is the medicine against Milo Đukanović. If there weren't 41, we would go to the elections. But there are 41 in this parliament," said Radunović.
Danijel Živković (DPS) said that this is no longer a parliament, but anarchy is at work and that is how they will behave in the future.
"You may think it's funny, but I'm afraid that that smile will quickly disappear from your face," said Živković, addressing the DF MPs.
He said that the DF very consciously and decisively assumed the role of a locomotive to destroy the institutional capacity of the state.
"The Constitution says what the state's competences are - it proposes to the Assembly the mandate to form the government after consultations with the political parties," he said.
He said that it would be strange for Lekić to accept the mandate based on such a legal solution, because "they have already spent it once".
He stated that it is an incredible amount of arrogance for someone to put pen to paper and construct a law like this.
"Those who participate in this are carrying out a constitutional coup..." he said.
Predrag Bulatović (DF) said that after the fall of Dritan Abazović's government, a parliamentary majority crystallized and, as a rule, the prime minister is elected from that majority.
"Dritan as prime minister does not have the support of the DF, but Dritan as the leader of the GP URA in the new government has our support. The new government has a majority and we want to unblock it. Montenegro is not threatened by this law, but by unconstitutional behavior, due to which there is no mandate for composition of the new government. We have not taken away any authority from the president with this law, but we are introducing new categories," said Buklatović.
He added that the president is given the opportunity to conduct consultations again and give a mandate for the composition of the government.
"When Miodrag Lekić receives the mandate and the process of forming the government begins, he will not have the support of 41 deputies, but 44," said Bulatović.
He added that at the end of November or the beginning of December, Montenegro can get a new government.
He reminded that the president has three days to sign the law and can return it once, but must sign it the second time.
He added that the law has a retroactive effect, to protect the public interest.
"What is the public interest? What is the greater public interest than to prevent the unconstitutional actions of the president of the country so that Montenegro does not have a government", said Bulatović.
He said that it is possible that the president will ignore both the consultations and the law, then the Assembly will appoint a mandate holder.
He said that no one intends to dismiss the president based on this law.
Bonus video:
