The deputies do not hear the calls of the Venetians

Despite the invitation of the Venice Commission (VK) and the declaration of political parties that the selection of judges of the Constitutional Court is extremely important, it is unlikely that even one of the four proposed candidates will be elected at the Assembly session on Monday.

The opposition previously declared that it would not vote for the candidates supported by the Constitutional Committee, namely Snezana Armenko, Jadranka Novaković, Jelena Ruzicic i Ilija Vukcevic. In the second round of voting, a two-thirds majority is required - 49 deputies, and the current majority has only 41 votes. The Assembly will decide on the candidates at its session on Monday.

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) conditions the support, stating that they are ready to elect one judge of the Constitutional Court on the condition that the date of the extraordinary parliamentary elections be determined and that the amendments to the Law on the President be withdrawn. This was announced by their representative yesterday Nikola Rakočević, stating that they are ready to discuss this issue.

"If they accept the rational conditions for exiting the crisis, which are in line with social interests, and we sit down to talk, we will vote for one judge. Although the process at the Board was very non-transparent and was not in accordance with the Constitution", said Rakočević at a press conference in the Parliament, answering the question of whether he will ignore the calls of the Venice and European Commission.

He said that they are ready to elect a judge already on Monday at the Assembly session, and if more time is needed for an agreement, then let the parliament session be postponed.

On Monday evening, a new protest "Ima nas" is scheduled in front of the parliament, which is supported by the DPS, although the official NGO organizer is still unknown to the public.

Head of the DPS Parliamentary Club Danijel Zivkovic, sent a letter to the president of the parliament last night Danijela Đurović in which he requests the postponement of the second round of voting. He, as reported by the RTNK portal, stated that this would create an opportunity for dialogue with the aim of getting out of the crisis.

President of the Venice Commission Claire to Buzzy Mallory she recently called on all parties in the Assembly to elect the four missing judges of the Constitutional Court without delay by a qualified majority. The European Commissioner for Enlargement also requested the same Oliver Varhelji, calling on all parties to find a compromise and appoint judges.

MP of the SNP Milosava Paunović she told "Vijesti" that she believes that four judges must be elected as a matter of urgency and that there is no justification for not voting. it functions smoothly", said the MP.

She stressed that without the Court even the possible extraordinary parliamentary elections could not be held, i.e. the results would be debatable, as we can see now with the example of the local elections.

Paunović said that all disagreements about the constitutionality of certain laws would also be resolved because it would be an opportunity for all those who have doubts about whether a law is in conflict with the Constitution to have the opportunity to resolve it before the relevant institution.

Member of the Democratic Front (DF) Jovan Vučurović told "Vijesta" that the DF will vote again for all candidates, but not because of the positions of the VC, but because of the citizens of Montenegro and because they are firmly committed to the country getting serious and independent institutions. "However, it is obvious that it is in the interest of the DPS to continue to keep this country under blockade and to prevent the functioning of the institutions. It is clear that the only scenario acceptable to them is a scenario where they control everything and where all the candidates are members of the DPS. Those times are gone...”

He pointed out that none of the proposed candidates has anything to do with DF and the parliamentary majority and called for all of them to be voted in.

Prime Minister in technical mandate Dritan Abazovic he said yesterday that if the DPS does not vote for the election of a US judge on November 28, it will be clear that they do not want the European path of Montenegro. "You can address it to the Government, but we have 41 deputies who said they will listen to the voice of the Venice Commission, Varhelji... There is no way out until at least one judge of the Constitutional Court is elected".

Democratic Montenegro announced yesterday that the President of the VK clearly emphasized the importance of unblocking the Constitutional Court. "Until today, no one has challenged any of the proposed candidates either professionally, morally, or in any other sense. Accordingly, we do not see a single rational reason for prolonging their election, unless some other party structures have no desire to challenge the effectuation of the citizens' electoral will".

Vice President of the opposition SDP Bojan Zekovic he said that the recommendations of the Venice Commission are a confirmation of the correctness of the policy of that party, which, as he states, has been insisting on opening a dialogue for two years in order to complete judicial functions.

"The Constitution directs us to a dialogue in order to provide a qualified majority for US judges as well as for the VDT and the Judicial Council, the meaning of those solutions is to get judges who enjoy a wider trust than any majority. At the same time, speaking of the 'pluralistic composition of the court', criticism was directed at the deposed government, whose vice president (Vladimir) Jokovic has the position that the current parliamentary majority should have a majority in the Constitutional Court," Zeković told "Vijesta".

The SDP expects, he added, that the need to choose candidates who have the support of both the government and the opposition through dialogue, and not imposing solutions, will be respected, thereby enabling the work of the Constitutional Court in its full mandate.

Prava Montenegro announced that it will vote for all four candidates at the session on November 28, calling for the opposition to reconsider its positions after the opinion of the VK.

The Constitutional Court has been blocked since September 13.

MPs will again discuss changes to the Law on the President on December 12?

The session of the Assembly where the amendments to the Law on the President will be considered again could be held on December 12.

According to "Vijesti" information, that date was proposed to the deputies by the President of the Assembly, Danijela Đurović.

That Law, considering that the President of the State Milo Đukanović did not sign it the first time, was supposed to come up again at the first following session of the Assembly, which means on Monday, when the vote on judges of the Constitutional Court takes place.

However, the parliamentary majority wanted to wait for the outcome of the vote on Constitutional Court judges and the eventual reaching of an agreement, which could result in the withdrawal of changes to the Law. It is part of the "package" of requests that DPS presented at the meeting of representatives of parliamentary parties on November 18. DPS, in addition to withdrawing the law, also demanded the date of extraordinary parliamentary elections and the return of the procedure for electing judges to the Constitutional Committee.

Borelj: If the blockade continues, there is no money for energy

The Cabinet of the President of Montenegro announced that the head of European diplomacy, Jozep Borelj, said that the European Union will not approve a package of financial support for energy to Montenegro if the blockade of institutions continues and the situation does not normalize in the near future.

Đukanović spoke with the EU official in Madrid, where, as announced by his cabinet, he informed him about the current situation in Montenegro and a possible scenario for overcoming the crisis in the functionality of the system's institutions. Borelj, as stated, clearly underlined that the EU will not approve a package of financial support for energy to Montenegro if the blockade of institutions continues.