President of the Parliament of Montenegro Andrija Mandic (NSD) did not congratulate January 4th - the Day of the Foundation of the Royal Capital of Cetinje this year either, which indicates a selective, partisan and ideological approach to state holidays, instead of the role that should symbolize institutional unity and respect for all layers of the state.
This follows from the response of political scientists Miloš Perović When asked by "Vijesti" why Mandić did not send a congratulatory message on the occasion of the Foundation Day of the Royal Capital of Cetinje this year, as well as last year, even though he did so on January 4, 2024.
Perović agrees that the reason for ignoring the congratulatory message could also be that the Cetinje Assembly requested a public apology from Mandić in November 2024 for, as they explained, long-standing attacks on the reputation of the city and its citizens.
"Until he issues a public apology, the unanimous position is that Andrija Mandić is not welcome in Cetinje," states the conclusion, which was supported by councilors from the local government and opposition at the session on November 7, 2024.
The Parliament of Montenegro did not respond to "Vijesti"'s questions about why Mandić did not congratulate the Royal Capital on its Foundation Day this year, as well as last year.
Perović assessed that the issue is politically and symbolically important, because it does not concern mere protocol, but rather the relationship towards the state and historical symbols of Montenegro.
"The attitude towards Cetinje always goes beyond the local framework and enters the sphere of value and identity politics. In that sense, not congratulating that date can be read as an attempt to distance oneself from the symbolism that Cetinje carries," assessed Perović.
He pointed out that it is problematic that the President of the Parliament does not act only as a party official, but as a representative of one of the highest state institutions, which by definition should symbolize institutional unity and respect for all state and historical layers of Montenegro.
"In this context, a selective attitude towards holidays and dates sends the message that state function is used through the prism of party or ideological identity, and not through an inclusive, statesmanlike role," said Perović.
Mandić assumed the position of Speaker of Parliament at the end of October 2023, and a month later became the Mayor of Cetinje. Nikola Đurašković congratulated the Day of the Royal Capital, which is celebrated on November 13. At that time, he said that from the position of President of the Parliament of Montenegro, he would work hard on inclusiveness, so that every local self-government in the country has a sincere partner in the parliament.
"I hope that together we will do everything possible to ensure that all peoples in Montenegro live in peace and brotherly harmony," Mandić said on November 13, 2023.
Already on January 4, 2024, on the occasion of the Foundation Day of the Royal Capital, he sent a congratulatory message to Đurašković and the President of the Municipal Assembly. Milena Vujovic.
He then said that the Day of the Founding of the Royal Capital has special symbolism when it comes to the history of Montenegro, and that Cetinje, along with Lovćen under which it is located, stood as a symbol and model of freedom for all the peoples of the Balkans who were then under the occupation of two great empires.
"As President of the Parliament of Montenegro, I will do my utmost to achieve the best possible cooperation between our parliament and all local governments, and I have no doubt that we will work together to build a stable and more prosperous society," Mandić said at the time.
A few months later, the Cetinje Assembly concluded that Mandić was not welcome in Cetinje. It decided to take this step because it did not have the legal authority to declare him persona non grata, which was requested at the time by a member of parliament from the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). Oscar Hutter.
Huter then quoted Mandić's statement in his explanation that Cetinje was "a small, secluded and insignificant village somewhere below Lovćen, significant only because he was born there." Aleksandar Karadjordjevic (grandson of the Montenegrin king Nikola Petrović).
The decision of the Assembly of the Royal Capital was preceded by Mandić's decision to change the logo of the Parliament of Montenegro.
At the beginning of October 2024, Mandić announced at a parliamentary session that the new visual identity was embodied in "the representative building of the former Zeta Banate, which housed the most important institutions of the Republic of Montenegro."
Mandić then recalled that it had been 90 years since the first victim of fascism in Europe fell, recalling the assassination of King Aleksandar Karađorđević.
"He was the grandson of King Nikola and a great historical figure who deserves to have his name mentioned in Cetinje and for us to say that he was the first victim of fascism in Europe," Mandić said at the time.
The opposition reacted violently after that. The DPS said that the symbolism was clear and that Mandić was referring to the Zeta Banovina at a time when Montenegro had lost its name, dignity and territory.
Mandić also met with citizens of Cetinje and Montenegro who were protesting against the enthronement of the Metropolitan of the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC). Joanikia at the Cetinje Monastery on September 5, 2021. called the “rabbits from Belvedere”.
Perović, answering the question whether the reason for avoiding the congratulatory message could be that the Cetinje Assembly requested a public apology from Mandić in November 2024 for, as they explained, long-standing attacks on the reputation of the city and its citizens, said that the President of the Assembly, unlike a party leader, should not personalize institutional relations or use state symbols and dates as a means of political or emotional response.
"Such behavior further confirms the impression that in Montenegrin politics the line between institutional role and political identity is often blurred, which produces long-term consequences: it deepens distrust, strengthens the feeling of marginalization among certain communities and sends the message that institutional respect is not universal, but conditional," said Perović.
He pointed out that even if the Cetinje Assembly's request was politically motivated or harsh in form, the institutional response should not have been silence:
"The state's reaction would imply either a clearly stated polemic, or at least maintaining elementary protocol respect for a date that has undeniable historical and state-building significance."
Perović pointed out that it can therefore be concluded that the absence of a congratulatory message is probably related to the aforementioned request for an apology, but it is precisely this connection that further problems the behavior of the President of the Parliament, because it shows that personal political animosities are reflected in institutional behavior.
Mandić does not even congratulate citizens on May 21st - Independence Day, and neither do ministers from the former Democratic Front.
He "didn't remember" either Budva or Šavnik.
In the past two years, Mandić has sent congratulations to most municipalities, except Cetinje, Šavnik and Budva.
According to data from the official website of the Parliament, this year the Speaker of the Parliament congratulated the Bijelo Polje Municipality Day (January 3) and attended the ceremony marking the Mojkovac Municipality Day (January 8).
During the past year, he sent greetings on the occasion of Podgorica Day (December 19), Danilovgrad Municipality Day (December 9), Bar (November 24), Kotor and Tivat (November 21), Herceg Novi (October 28), Rožaje (September 30), Nikšić (September 18), Žabljak (September 17), Tuzi (September 1), Kolašin (August 28), Gusinje (August 5), Petnjica and Plužine (August 4), Plav (July 25), Berane (July 21), Andrijevica (July 17), Ulcinj (April 5) and Zeta (February 8).
There is no information on the parliament's website that he congratulated the Day of the Municipality of Budva, which is celebrated on November 22, or the Day of the Municipality of Šavnik (July 22).
Warm and fraternal greetings for the unconstitutional Republika Srpska Day
Mandić congratulated the unconstitutional Republika Srpska Day on Friday.
"I have just sent my warm and fraternal congratulations to the leadership of Republika Srpska on the occasion of January 9th - the day of the founding of Republika Srpska. I believe that this January 9th will also be proof of the commitment of the Serbian people to the values of freedom, justice and peace, which are the guarantors of stability in the Western Balkans," said Mandić.
One of the leaders of the European Union and the president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Ivan Vujović, said that Mandić does not congratulate the country whose Parliament he presides over on Independence Day, but regularly congratulates the illegal statehood of a part of another country.
"It's good for the duke to regularly remind us that he remains the same. The one who called on his comrades to 'ditch the weapons', for whom NATO was the 4th Reich, the EU the rotten and failed West, and Montenegro a temporary creation...".
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