Head of State Jakov Milatovic will hold meetings today with individual parliamentary groups and parliamentarians regarding his proposal to Mirjana Vučinić will be elected as a judge of the Constitutional Court, his office told "Vijesti" yesterday.
However, they did not say who Milatović would meet with today.
"We are in constant communication with all parliamentary groups, and meetings with individual groups and MPs are scheduled for today, while the others will be held in the coming weeks in accordance with the obligations and agenda of the president and MPs," the response to "Vijesti" reads.
Vučinić, Milatović's candidate for Constitutional Court judge, did not receive the required two-thirds support of MPs in the Parliament ten days ago. 16 opposition MPs (Democratic Party of Socialists and Social Democrats) and independent MPs voted for her election. Jevrosima Pejović i Radinka Ćinćur, while 44 government representatives abstained. Some government representatives resented Vučinić for being a lawyer for the Bemaks company.
Milatović announced last week that he had sent a letter to all MPs, inviting them to consultations regarding Vučinić's election, stating that Vučinić would also be present at those meetings.
Of the ruling parties, only the Bosniak Party (BS) responded to "Vijesti's" question about whether they would respond to Milatović's call.
"Bosniak Party MPs will respond to the invitation for consultations by the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, on the choice of US studies," the party said. Ervin Ibrahimović.
They expressed their strong support for the inclusive approach necessary for the selection of Constitutional Court judges.
"... As with all elections for which, according to the Constitution, it is necessary to secure qualified support in the Assembly through a broader consensus, because this norm is intended to ensure inclusiveness," they added.
Milatović's office said they believe the dialogue with MPs is "an important step towards ensuring broad consensus on this issue of importance to the functioning of institutions and the rule of law."
"As the President announced, during the consultations we are ready to provide all relevant information regarding the candidacy of Ms. Vučinić, whom we see as a professional and integrity-based candidate who can achieve a high degree of consensus in the Parliament," they stated.
They expressed their belief that the selection of Constitutional Court judges must be based solely on expertise, knowledge and integrity, and not on political agreements.
"We also share the position of the European Commission (EC), which has called for the urgent completion of the Constitutional Court, so that this institution can be fully functional. By completing it, Montenegro would take an important step towards strengthening institutional stability and progress in the European integration process," they said.
The European Commission said that the European Union expects Montenegro to appoint three judges to the Constitutional Court, without further delay, through a transparent and merit-based selection process.
Regarding the failure to elect judges in the Parliament last week, the EC told "Vijesti" that a fully functional and independent Constitutional Court is essential for protecting citizens' rights and preserving the rule of law and democratic stability.
"It is also of key importance for Montenegro's path towards accession to the European Union," they said.
Apart from Vučinić, the candidates of the Constitutional Committee - Deputy Protector of Human Rights and Freedoms - also did not receive parliamentary support. Mirjana Radovic and judge of the High Court in Podgorica Jovan Jovanovic.
Jovanović's election was supported by 45 members of the majority, while 1 was against. Admir Adrović from the Bosniak Party (BS), while five of his party colleagues abstained. Forty-four majority MPs voted for Radović, who some criticized for not having a bar exam, one was against (Adrović), and five abstained (BS).
According to the Constitution, the election of judges of the Constitutional Court requires a two-thirds majority in the Assembly, or 54 votes, and if this is not achieved, a second round is held, in which the election requires the support of three-fifths of the deputies (49). Given that the candidates did not receive the required majority in the first round, the second round will be held in a month at the earliest.
The Constitutional Court currently has four out of the seven judges that the institution should have. The Constitutional Committee published a notice for the election of two judges on December 23 last year and heard all candidates in mid-March, but nominated them in early October. In the meantime, the head of state has published a new notice for the election of one judge, because the judge Desanka Lopičić His term expires at the end of the year.
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