Turbulence in the majority as the Amnesty Law fails

MPs from New Serbian Democracy and the Democratic People's Party (DNP) protested today at the collegium of the Speaker of Parliament because their Amnesty Bill did not receive the necessary support, stating that they will take into account the attitude of their colleagues from the government towards their proposal.

Today, the Parliament did not adopt the Bill on Amnesty for Persons Convicted of Criminal Offenses Prescribed by the Laws of Montenegro and Persons Convicted of a Foreign Criminal Judgment Being Executed in Montenegro, proposed by the NSD and DNP MPs, even after a repeated vote.

A total of 38 MPs voted, of which 34 voted "in favor" and four abstained (from the Europe Now Movement).

A majority of the total number of deputies, i.e. 41, is required to pass the law.

After that, a break was given until 16 pm and a seminar was held.

After a break, DNP leader Milan Knežević said that there was an agreement to support the Amnesty Law, because there is nothing controversial in it. He also said that the coalition "For the Future of Montenegro" will not support the Corporate Income Tax Law.

Everything is happening in anticipation of the vote on the controversial amendments to the Law on the National Security Agency (NSA).

A Vijesti source from the Socialist People's Party (SNP) said that the party will not vote for amendments to the ANB Law.

DNP MP Vladislav Bojović abstained when the Committee on Security and Defense adopted the Report on the Consideration of the Bill on the National Security Agency.

The European Commission also reacted to the way in which the executive branch adopted the Draft Law on the National Security Agency, almost secretly and without public debate.

EC spokesperson Guillaume Mercier recently told "Vijesti" that the EU is closely monitoring developments in the security sector, including the proposed amendments to the Law on the National Security Agency.

He said that the EU expects Montenegro to provide appropriate clarifications regarding the purpose and scope of the proposed legislative amendments, including "enabling the European Commission to conduct a thorough analysis before proceeding with the procedure for adopting that law."

Mercije emphasized that they have noted the concerns raised by domestic civil society organizations on this occasion.