Every missed opportunity deepens the constitutional crisis, endangers the institutions and the European path of Montenegro, Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović announced today.
"I congratulate Mr. Jovan Jovanović on his election as a judge of the Constitutional Court and wish him much success in performing this responsible function. However, the election of a judge of the Constitutional Court today in the Parliament is only a partial step forward - the Court is still not complete and cannot fulfill its constitutional role to its full capacity. Citizens expected accountability from all MPs in relation to the proposed candidates and their biographies. Therefore, every missed opportunity deepens the constitutional crisis, endangers the institutions and the European path of Montenegro," Milatović wrote on the social network X.
He added that his obligation as president remains clear.
"I will protect the Constitution, insist on independent institutions and support any solution that strengthens the rule of law. Montenegro must move forward. Institutions must function. We must not allow the state to stand still due to political calculations and irresponsibility. It is time to finish the job – in the interest of Montenegro and its European future," Milatović wrote.
Jovan Jovanović is the new judge of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro, while Mirjana Vučinić and Mirjana Radović did not receive the necessary support from MPs at today's session of the Parliament of Montenegro.
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50 MPs voted for Jovanović, while one was against and three abstained.
Radović received the support of 47 MPs, two were against, and three abstained.
When it comes to Vučinić, 45 MPs were in favor of her appointment, while 11 abstained.
Jovanović took the oath after being elected.
The deputies first voted for the proposal to elect Jovanović, then for the proposal to elect Radović, while finally they voted for the proposal to elect Vučinić.
Before the vote, Social Democrat (SD) MP Boris Mugoša asked why the voting schedule for the election of judges had been changed, because the proposal to elect Vučinić was submitted five months before the proposal to elect Jovanović and Radović.
He demanded that "the vote be held according to that schedule."
"I ask you not to change the voting schedule due to trade, inter-party agreements, internal or external pressure, and not to change any things that disrupt the work of parliament," Mugoša said.
Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić responded that he would "act as he announced."
MPs from the Europe Now Movement (PES), Democratic Montenegro, New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Democratic People's Party (DNP), Socialist People's Party (SNP), United Montenegro, Citizens' Alliance CIVIS, Albanian Forum (AF), Albanian Alliance (AA), Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA), and independent MPs Radinka Ćinćur and Jevrosima Pejović voted for Jovanović.
Radović received the votes of PES, Democrats, NSD, DNP, SNP, United, Citizens' Alliance CIVIS, Albanian Forum and Albanian Alliance.
Vučinić had the support of some deputies from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), some deputies from the Civic Movement URA, some deputies from PES (some abstained), the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI), DUA, SNP, AF, AA and CIVIS.
A three-fifths majority (49 votes) was required to elect a judge of the Constitutional Court at today's session.
None of the three candidates received the necessary three-quarters majority (54 votes) in the first round on October 14th.
Lawyer Vučinić was Milatović's candidate, while the parliamentary Constitutional Committee proposed the judge of the High Court in Podgorica Jovanović and the deputy ombudsman Radović.
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