Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić has imposed a 15-day suspension on opposition MPs.
He announced this at today's session of the Collegium of the Speaker of the Parliament. Opposition MPs walked out of the Collegium.
"Vijesti" was unofficially told by the authorities that the Assembly session could be scheduled today.
Opposition MPs cannot attend sessions for the next 15 days, except when voting.
As "Vijesti" has learned, the measure was not issued to opposition MPs Boris Mugoša from the Social Democrats, Drita Lola, Nikola Janović, Nikola Milović and Nikola Rakočević from the Democratic Party of Socialists, nor to independent MPs Jevrosima Pejović and Radinka Ćinćur.
Some of them are not currently in Montenegro.
"The rules that we, as the government and the opposition, established together a long time ago and that define our legislative house are above you and above me. You know that I, like other members of the parliamentary majority, would talk to you endlessly, but the rules oblige me to do what is not in my nature and which as a fellow parliamentarian I would never want to do. You know yourself that I have spent most of my political career in the opposition and that I have always had a special sensitivity when it comes to it. The obligations and duties that I have towards our Parliament as an institution and the citizens it represents, unfortunately prevent me from showing infinite patience towards your persistence and intolerance, although I have called on you countless times to return to dialogue and agreement, but time is running out, because the obligations that this state has towards its own citizens cannot wait any longer. In all civilized and democratic countries, there are measures that have been established to maintain order at parliamentary sessions, because all citizens of our country depend on its smooth work, especially when it comes to adopting the budget," he wrote. Mandic.
"Because of all the above, with a heavy heart, in accordance with Articles 109 and 110a of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Montenegro, due to the disruption of order at the Session of the Parliament of Montenegro on 21 January 2025 and the continuous blockade of the work of the legislative chamber, I pronounce upon you the measure of removal from the session, which shall apply for the next 15 days of the session (work) of the Parliament from the date of pronouncement of this measure. In the hope that we will soon continue to work together for the good of all citizens of Montenegro and progress on our European path, I warmly greet you," the Speaker of Parliament stated.
The session of the Collegium of the President of the Assembly, which Mandić had scheduled to continue at 13 p.m., began half an hour late.
The meeting was attended by representatives of the majority: the Speaker of the Assembly Andrija Mandić (NSD), Vice-Presidents Boris Pejović (PES), Nikola Camaj (AF), Mirsad Nurković (BS), as well as the heads of the ruling parliamentary groups - Vasilije Čarapić (PES), Bogdan Božović (SNP), Dejan Đurović (NSD), Boris Bogdanović (Democrats), Milan Knežević (DNP) and Artan Čobi (AF). Representatives of the opposition also came: Andrija Nikolić (DPS), Miloš Konatar (URA), Boris Mugoša (SD) and Adrijan Vuksanović (HGI).
The session of the Budva Municipal Assembly is scheduled for today at 15 p.m., and it is not clear whether representatives of the "For the Future of Budva" coalition will disrupt its holding.
Holding that session is the opposition's precondition for an agreement on a solution to the crisis at the state level.
The government deputies entered through one of the side entrances.
As they entered, two opposition MPs said they were not even informed that the session would be continued.
What do the Rules of Procedure say?
According to Article 109 of the Rules of Procedure, which Mandić referred to, the measure of suspension is imposed on a deputy who obstructs work or does not respect the decision of the President of the Assembly to take away the floor, and Article 110a stipulates that the measure of warning applies from the moment it is imposed.
"A measure of removal from the session shall be imposed on a deputy who, even after the measure of removal from the floor has been imposed, disrupts or prevents the work of the session, does not respect the decision of the President of the Assembly on imposing a measure of removal from the floor, or continues with his behavior in accordance with Article 107 of these Rules of Procedure. A measure of removal from the session may be imposed on a deputy even without previously imposed measures, in the event of a disturbance of order or a physical attack on a deputy or another person in the Assembly building. A deputy who has been ordered to remove himself from the session is obliged to immediately leave the session.
"If a deputy refuses to leave the Assembly session, the President of the Assembly shall order the service responsible for maintaining order in the Assembly building to remove that deputy from the session and order a break until the removal measure is carried out.
"A member of parliament who has been ordered to take the floor does not have the right to ask a parliamentary question at the first subsequent session dedicated to a parliamentary question. Members of the law enforcement agencies may not have access to the Plenary Hall or to the premises where parliamentary working bodies are in session, except upon invitation and approval by the President of the Parliament," reads Article 109 of the Rules of Procedure.
Additionally, Article 110a states:
"Measures of warning and deprivation of speech shall apply for the day on which they were pronounced at the session of the Assembly. The measure of suspension from the session shall also apply for the next 15 days of the session (work) of the Assembly from the day of the pronouncement of this measure. By way of exception to paragraph 2 of this Article, a deputy who has been suspended from the session of the Assembly shall have the right to attend the session of the Assembly when voting takes place."
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