Milatović's Cabinet: Victory of democracy, proposed law attempts to place ANB under full government control

The decision to withdraw the Draft Law on the National Security Agency (ANB) represents the only possible correct move, the cabinet of Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović announced.

They believe that this law, which "attempted to nullify all mechanisms of democratic oversight" over the ANB, should not have even been included in the parliamentary procedure.

"From day one, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović has clearly stood in defense of the constitutional order, civil rights and European standards. He warned that the law completely eliminates the Defense and Security Council, a body that maintains balance in the security sector and ensures that no branch of government usurps the system," the statement reads.

They say the proposed law attempted to place the ANB under the complete political control of the Government.

"This is not the vision of a European Montenegro. Thanks to the reaction of the institutions, the public, the media and our European partners, this law had to be withdrawn. This is a victory for democracy, a victory for the Constitution and a victory for the citizens. But withdrawing the law does not mean that the job is done. On the contrary," they add.

Milatović's cabinet says that Montenegro needs a law that will modernize and professionalize the work of the ANB, but within a clear democratic framework, with the role of the Defense and Security Council, with parliamentary oversight, with judicial control over surveillance measures, and with institutions that do not work for parties, but for citizens.

"Therefore, President Milatović calls on the Government to stop trying to adopt the most important laws in silence, without public debate and without consulting with institutions. To start respecting the Constitution as the highest legal act, and not as an obstacle to political ambitions. To regulate the security sector according to the European model, in which no function is beyond control, and no institution is anyone's private property," they said.

They say that the President of Montenegro will not allow the Constitution to be violated "under the guise of security."

They also say that Montenegro must not be a country in which citizens are monitored without a court order and that it must not be a country in which the ANB is used for political control, but rather that it must be a country in which both security and freedom are equally protected by law.

"That is why today's decision is important, but not because the law has been withdrawn, but because it has been shown that Montenegro cannot be governed with the help of the ANB, nor will Montenegro ever again be the prey of parties. Laws can be negotiated. The Constitution cannot be negotiated. Procedures can be changed. The balance of power cannot be abolished. Laws can be passed. But only in the name of citizens, not against citizens," the statement reads.

The ruling majority MPs withdrew the draft laws on the National Security Agency and on internal affairs from today's Parliament agenda.

Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić (New Serbian Democracy) said that the ruling majority, although supporting the changes, withdrew the proposals, appreciating that "the public was not well communicated."

"We will do our best to communicate better with the public and our international partners until the proposal is put into the new procedure," he said.