Pejović and Ćinćur: It is inappropriate to incite political and national tensions over an issue of an institutional nature

In a democratic society, constructive criticism is desirable and necessary. However, when a minister sends messages to the president that are based on affect, insults and threats, then we are no longer talking about political disagreement, but about a serious deviation from professional and institutional responsibility, said independent MPs Jevrosima Pejović and Radinka Ćinćur.

As they stated in the statement, such communication is not befitting a minister holding a high state position, but rather sends a message to the public that political positions are expressed without argument, indecently and undignifiedly.

"However, it is worth recalling one very interesting historical fact, which is often overlooked by people in power in our society: the word minister comes from the Latin word (minister) and, among other things, means "servant/servant of the people". Among the ancient Romans, the translated meaning of this term would have been "small in comparison to others", that is, a person guided by the interests of the community/people - "servant of the people", which, it seems to us, is contrary to today's understanding of this function," Pejović and Ćinćur said in a statement.

According to them, "the worrying message (read threat!)" from Minister Đeljošaj, stating that "Albanians will react wherever they have influence" is not an expression of a legitimate political stance or communication aimed at exchanging critical opinions, but rather a call for ethnic mobilization with the desire to exert political pressure, which is very dangerous and unacceptable for a multiethnic, civil and democratic society.

They added that Montenegro is a small country and must be guided by the common interests of all its citizens, while this form of "communication" should be condemned in a timely manner, because it must not devolve into a manner of political bickering, manipulation and pressure.

"The President's decision to return the law to the Parliament for reconsideration is not a political whim, but a constitutional and moral obligation to protect legal certainty, equality of citizens and the unity of the tax system. The law in question contains several solutions that are contrary to the Constitution, the Law on Protection of Competition and the Law on Tax Administration, including the unconstitutional transfer of jurisdiction to local governments, the retroactive effect of the law and discrimination against agricultural producers throughout Montenegro," Pejović and Ćinćur state.

As they said, because of all of the above, it is completely inappropriate to incite political and national tensions over an issue that is exclusively of a legal and institutional nature.

"The institution of the president must remain outside of daily political pressures, as it is obliged to protect the Constitution and the interests of all citizens, without exception. On the other hand, we welcome the legal and legitimate expression of certain political or other disagreements, but through adequate means of communication, through state institutions, reasoned debates and available legal mechanisms," they stated.

Pejović and Ćinćur point out that such a tone of communication by Minister Đeljošaj not only insults the President of the country, but also the very institution he exercises and represents, the Government of which Đeljošaj is a member, but also all citizens who want stability, political responsibility and civilized public debate.

"Because, authority is not built with insults and threats, but with one's own example and responsible behavior. The civilizational values on which Montenegrin society is based should be a culture of dialogue and reasoned exchange of opinions, respect for the state, state institutions and its representatives, but also responsibility for the spoken word in public discourse. Constructive dialogue and exchange of opinions must not and cannot be viewed as a deficiency or weakness, but rather a solid foundation for the development of every orderly, democratic and civil state. Once again, we remind you of the words of our greatest poet and ruler, Petar II Petrović Njegoš: 'Montenegrins come to their senses!'" concluded Pejović and Ćinćur.

The Office of the President of Montenegro announced yesterday that Deputy Prime Minister Nik Đeljošaj sent a series of threats and inappropriate messages to President Jakov Milatović, immediately after it was announced that the head of state had returned the Law on Real Estate Tax to the Parliament for reconsideration.

Đeljošaj rejected as untrue claims from the cabinet of Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović that he had been threatened.