The fourth judge of the Constitutional Court depends on two deputies

MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro will, at the earliest in a month, once again declare themselves on the candidate for judge of the Constitutional Court, Faruk Resulbegović, who yesterday was the only one of the four candidates who did not receive two-thirds support in the parliament.

Yesterday, the Assembly elected deputy ombudsman Snežana Armenko, former protector of property and legal interests of the state Dragana Đuranović and judge of the Basic Court in Kotor Momirka Tešić as judges of the Constitutional Court, for a term of 12 years.

They immediately took their oaths, which formally gave them the status of judges, so they are already expected in their new jobs today.

Armenko received the support of 77 deputies, Đuranović 75, while Tešić was supported by 70, two were against, and four abstained.

Resulbegović was not elected as a US judge, because the members of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Bosniak Party (BS) abstained during the vote.

In order for him to be elected in the second round of voting, he will need three-fifths support, that is, the votes of 49 deputies.

The post-August majority, the Social Democrats and the Social Democratic Party, with the support of Genci Nimanbegu (Force), have a total of 47 deputies (41+3+2+1), so the eventual consent of Mehmed Zenka (DUA) and Andrija Popović (LP) would be enough for the election. However, given that they make decisions in consultation with DPS, it is unlikely that this will happen.

According to unofficial information from "Vijesti", DPS does not want the Ulcinj prosecutor in the Constitutional Court, because he initiated proceedings against their colleagues, including the former president of the Municipality of Ulcinj, Ljor Nrekić, due to suspicion of party employment in Ulcinj.

DPS explained yesterday that the reason is in fact the absence of an agreement between the minority parties regarding a common candidate.

"We have repeated several times that we will not arbitrate in the agreement between the Bosniak Party (BS) and the Albanian parties. Any candidate who is the product of a joint agreement between the aforementioned parties will have our full support," DPS spokesman Miloš Nikolić wrote on Twitter.

BS MP Suljo Mustafić pointed out that they were excluded from the agreement for the election of the US, especially the fourth candidate who should be from minority nations.

He said that BS deserves a representative of that nation in the US, and that he will seek support for the election of the fourth member of the US.

Until last year, Bosniaks had two judges from their own ranks.

The non-election of Resulbegović yesterday confronted political representatives of Bosniaks and Albanians.

The president of the Albanian Alternative and the Municipality of Tuzi, Nik Đeljošaj, said that it was unthinkable for DPS and BS that the judge of the Constitutional Court would be an Albanian.

"The anti-Albanian hysteria from the 90s seems to still rule in the minds of some parties and MPs. The Parliament of Montenegro today, despite the calls of the entire international community and Euro-Atlantic partners, could not elect all four judges, because DPS and BS did not vote for the fourth candidate, Mr. Resulbegović, only for the reason that he is Albanian," Đeljošaj announced yesterday.

He pointed out that yesterday the positions of certain parties on European integration, the unblocking of the Constitutional Court and the attitude towards the Albanian people were clearly visible.

"This kind of anti-Albanian activity of the DPS is not new, because they were always on the fence that Albanians cannot be in the institutions, that's why today they are hurt by such a presence and an indication that wherever they decide, we will be unwelcome. Now everything is clear, that's why these open chauvinists will have our answer, the first step towards that will be a convincing victory of the Albanian Forum on March 5," said Đeljošaj.

The Political Director of the Albanian Alternative and Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj said that it is not good that only one of the four proposed candidates for judges of the Constitutional Court dropped out - and that from among the less numerous nations.

"If the candidate Resulbegović has already been approved by the Constitutional Committee, and by a qualified majority, then we must receive important and decisive reasons for his non-election, from those who did not vote for him: BS and DPS," he said in the announcement. Duke.

MP and leader of Force Genci Nimanbegu announced that Albanians are still subject to silent discrimination.

"Just today, while the governments of Albania and Montenegro were sitting in CANA, in the legislative chamber, contrary to the recommendations of the EU and the USA, they voted that there is no place for an Albanian in the Constitutional Court," Genci said in a statement.

The president of the Constitutional Committee, Simonida Kordić, said yesterday that the status of the proposed candidates has not changed, except for Dragana Đuranović, who informed the committee that she resigned from DPS.

The election of judges was welcomed yesterday by the presidential candidates and other officials, including the President of the Assembly Danijela Đurović, the Prime Minister in technical mandate Dritan Abazović, the President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović.

He said that the conditions have been created for the Constitutional Court to restore its functionality and be the guarantor of the constitutional order, legal security and legitimacy of future election processes.

"I invite and encourage the minority parties to agree on the remaining vacant seat as soon as possible in order to achieve the completion of the full composition of the Constitutional Court," added Đukanović.

The President of the European Council (EC) Charles Michel and representatives of influential Western embassies in Montenegro welcomed the appointment of the missing judges of the Constitutional Court.

"A really important step towards a fully functional judiciary in Montenegro. Ensuring appropriate and stable institutions is key, as well as credible EU reforms so that Montenegro can progress on its way to the EU," Mišel wrote on Twitter.

Varhelji: Conditions created for general and presidential elections

European Union Enlargement Commissioner Oliver Varhelji welcomed the appointment of three judges.

"I welcome the appointment of three judges by the Assembly to the Constitutional Court of Montenegro. The restoration of a fully operational court is essential for the stability and functionality of Montenegrin institutions. Now all the conditions have been created for organizing presidential and general elections," Varhelji wrote on Twitter.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Slovenia, Tanja Fajon, also stated that she welcomes the news from Montenegro with her Austrian colleague Aleksandar Schallenberg.