DPS MPs' Club: Interpellation on Bečić's work does not have the required number of signatures, part of the opposition sided with the government

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) parliamentary group in the Parliament of Montenegro announced today that the DPS interpellation on the work of Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić (Democrats) does not have the necessary number of signatures to enter the parliamentary procedure, because, as they said, part of the opposition has sided with the government.

"The interpellation to discuss issues in the conduct of the Government's policy in the areas of security, defense, the fight against crime and internal policy, prepared by DPS deputies, does not have the required number of signatures to enter the parliamentary procedure, because part of the opposition has sided with the government," the statement said.

The DPS MPs' Club added that the goal of this interpellation was "for the government and the opposition to exchange arguments in the Parliament of Montenegro, as the highest representative house of citizens, regarding the worrying security situation in the country, which is caused by the general chaos in the security sector, on whose behalf the holders of the most important functions act in an uncoordinated, unprofessional and incompetent manner."

"As a reminder, as serious and responsible people who understand the importance of this issue, the interpellation was supported by HGI and SD, while URA, despite the fact that the president of that party, Dritan Abazović, announced support for the interpellation, informed the public yesterday that their signatures would still be absent. In this way, URA prevented the interpellation from entering the agenda, and prevented the expected discussion and statement on the currently burning issue in the country, ignoring the social atmosphere in which no citizen can feel safe anymore, because criminals are not afraid of the state, and because the system has capitulated to organized criminal groups, whose war is gaining momentum," the statement reads.

The DPS MPs' Club said that "the opposition does not lose when one of its initiatives does not pass, because the opposition is a minority in parliament."

"Likewise, the fact that one formally opposition party did not sign the Interpellation of its opposition colleagues shows that in Montenegro, the government has its associates in the opposition ranks. In conclusion, the Democratic Party of Socialists will continue to use all available institutional mechanisms to control the irresponsible government and to point out the social problems that are accumulating, regardless of whether we encounter a solidary approach from the rest of the opposition or democratic responsiveness from government representatives," said the DPS Parliamentary Group.

Vijesti announced last night that the Civic Movement (GP) URA will not sign the DPS interpellation on Bečić's work, but that if it is on the Assembly agenda, it will support it.

The editorial office was previously told, earlier last night, by the DPS unofficially that they had been informed by the URA Police Station that they would not sign the interpellation.

Its submission requires at least 27 signatures from MPs. DPS has 17, and the Social Democrats, who announced their support for the initiative, have three, which means that, after the GP URA decision, there is little chance that the interpellation will enter the parliamentary procedure.

The leader of the URA Police, Dritan Abazović, said last Thursday in the show "Načisto" on Television Vijesti that his party would support the interpretation. He added at the time that it was illogical for the DPS to propose it, whose security sector personnel he replaced when he was in power, "a large number of whom are in detention."

Last week, MP and DPS president Danijel Živković announced that the DPS is preparing to submit an interpellation on Bečić, or rather on the work of the executive branch in the areas of security, internal policy, defense and the fight against organized crime.

At a press conference in parliament, he said that Montenegro is becoming an "interest ATM for the ruling parties," with "the security system being the most affected." He assessed that institutions have not adequately responded to either the fire season or the recent installation of a monument to Chetnik commander Pavle Đurišić in the Berane village of Gornje Zaostro, while, according to him, criminal settlements show that the state does not have a functional security sector.

"This interpellation aims to open up all these topics in the Parliament, because we believe that the Parliament is the right place to offer specific answers to these topics and to hear the arguments of the government and the opposition. We will offer the interpellation to all ruling parties, because we expect from them that the role of the opposition is primarily one of control," said Živković, adding that he expects the initiative to be signed by opposition MPs.

An interpellation is one of the mechanisms of parliamentary control over the work of the Government and its ministers. According to the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, an interpellation can be submitted by at least 27 MPs.

The President of the Assembly then immediately forwards it to the parliamentary groups and the Government, which must submit a report within 30 days. After that, the interpellation is placed on the agenda of the first subsequent session. The debate may end with a conclusion or without a decision, and the Members of Parliament may also initiate a vote of no confidence in the Government.