Vučelić, independent MP, lawsuit against Pavićević: What is the epilogue of last week's events and incidents in CIVIS

Former member of CIVIS Maja Vučelić She will represent the parliament in the future as an independent MP, and together with twenty-one other delegates with whom she left the alliance last week, she will file a complaint with the competent authorities against its president. Srđan Pavićević because, as he claims, he grossly violated the organization's statute.

This is the epilogue so far of last week's events in CIVIS, i.e. the incident at their extraordinary assembly session, when private security prevented some delegates from attending the session.

Because of this and other decisions, 22 delegates reportedly left the organization, claiming that it no longer functions democratically. They said that the session was not convened in accordance with the statute, and expressed suspicions of “attempts to change the balance of power and non-transparent financial management,” which is why they decided to withdraw from the membership.

Srđan Pavicevic recalled that CIVIS ran in the 2023 national elections in a coalition with the Europe Now Movement (PES), and that they then received one parliamentary mandate, which he, after leaving to become Deputy Prime Minister, ceded to Maja Vučelić.

Will, as he says, that mandate be returned to GB (voters' group) CIVIS, given that "the one in whose possession it is" has left NGO SG (citizens' union) CIVIS and "has thereby publicly distanced himself from the sociological, political and philosophical thought, idea and vision of NGO SG CIVIS, which is supported by both the heritage and GB CIVIS - that is a question for him, not for CIVIS."

"However, this is decided by personal responsibility, ethical reflection on the problem, and not dry and sterile bureaucratic views," Pavićević told "Vijesti".

On the other hand, Vučelić announces that from now on she will act in the Parliament as an independent MP, who, as she claims, will consistently advocate for "strengthening the civic center, preserving multiethnic harmony and advancing pro-European policies, in the interests of all citizens of Montenegro."

When asked by the editorial staff whether she would leave the parliamentary group formed by the Socialist People's Party (SNP) and CIVIS, she replied that she would inform the public when she decided to do so.

VUČELIC: PAVIĆEVIĆ'S PRIVATE STRUCTURE

Vučelić told "Vijesti" that the NGO CIVIS and GB CIVIS no longer function as a civic and political organization. Instead of a space for dialogue, responsibility and joint decision-making, CIVIS, she believes, has been transformed into a private structure under the control of Pavićević.

She said that a regular session of the CIVIS Assembly was scheduled for December 20th of last year, at which, she claims, Pavicevic failed to provide a quorum. The same session, she adds, was scheduled again for February 14th, and at that session, according to her interlocutor, Pavicevic did not have a majority of the 26 delegates - 14 of them, she says, did not support his proposals.

According to her, at the same session, the majority of members rejected Pavićević's proposal to amend the Statute, while supporting the amendments she proposed.

"However, the work report stated that there was no activity. The question arises: why did the president cancel that session - was it because he did not like the majority's decision," Vučelić stated.

She says that the changes to the statute relate to the abolition of the general secretariat, which has the authority to manage the finances and organization of CIVIS.

He claims that Pavicevic proposed the Statute so that the presidency he chairs, "and where he has inserted friends and godfathers," would take over these responsibilities.

"14 of us out of 26 did not accept that proposal. He has now adopted the Statute that he proposed on February 14, at an extraordinary session, which violates Article 37 of the Statute," the interviewee stated, explaining that Article 37 of the current Statute clearly stipulates that amendments can only be adopted at a regular session of the Assembly.

He justifies the claim about the violation of the Statute at the extraordinary session held on March 22 by saying that the session was attended by persons who had never been members of CIVIS.

She said that because of the above, the 22 delegates who left the organization will file a complaint with the competent authorities for gross violation of the Statute.

Responding to questions from "Vijesti" regarding the objections of former CIVIS members regarding the Statute, Pavićević said that the issue of an extraordinary session and consideration of the initiative regarding amendments to the Statute should be viewed in the context of the specific circumstances in which the CIVIS Citizens' Association found itself.

He claims that the Statute recognizes the institute of an extraordinary session (Article 19), while the Assembly, as the highest body (Article 17), is competent to decide on its amendments (Article 21).

"There is no provision that prohibits amendments to the Statute from being considered at an extraordinary session of the Assembly, if all procedural requirements are met," said Pavicevic.

He said that the extraordinary session of the Assembly is being convened precisely to resolve procedural disputes and overcome the institutional blockade, and that the final decision on all issues is made by the membership through voting.

He pointed out that an extraordinary Assembly of the NGO SG CIVIS was scheduled for March 22nd, with the central topic of Statutory changes to this non-governmental association.

"By doing so, I am trying to make it clear that it was not a party meeting, because NGO SG CIVIS is not a political party, but an NGO. So anyone who left this organization that day for some reason did not leave the party, but the non-governmental association SG CIVIS," he claims.

He added that this extraordinary session of the Assembly was scheduled because attempts to hold a regular annual session on December 20, 2025 and February 14, 2026 failed for procedural reasons, "and were annulled."

PAVIĆEVIĆ: SEVEN MORE MEMBERS LEFT CIVIS WITH VUČELIĆ

Pavićević said that seven more members left CIVIS with Vučelić, while, as he says, he would not speculate on the other numbers and names until the Supervisory Board of NGO SG CIVIS, which deals with membership records, completes a complete and thorough analysis and officially presents the results at the first meeting of the Presidency of NGO SG CIVIS, "which will be held as soon as possible."

Responding to a question about his comment that several former CIVIS members stated in a statement on March 22 that Pavićević "uses the story of democracy, meritocracy and public interest as a convenient cover for control over the significant funds that CIVIS receives on the basis of its parliamentary status," he said that certain, "significant funds" are not received on the basis of the parliamentary status of the NGO SG CIVIS, which Vučelić left at its extraordinary session.

"I think that these 'useful ambiguities' are being tried to be spread by some people, with only one goal, which I personally will not comment on, because it is not worthy of comment," said Pavicevic.

He said that "neither democracy, nor meritocracy, nor the fight for the public interest can ever "cover", much less "control" financial resources."

They, he added, are controlled by specialized public institutions in their inspection, supervision and control procedures - the State Audit Institution and the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption.

"We know that they have never found any irregularities in the financial status and operations of either the NGO SG CIVIS or the CIVIS Voters' Group in all these years of existence. But that does not mean that they will not come under control again if they deem it necessary. We are here, at your full disposal," said Pavićević.

Of the money that PES receives from the budget for regular party work (272.988 euros) per month, their coalition partners in the parliamentary elections, United Montenegro and CIVIS, will each receive 8.222 euros per month.

“Security deployed for the safety of participants”

Vučelić said that seven days before the session, Pavicevic hired private security who prevented CIVIS members who disagreed with his views from attending the Assembly session.

"We call on him to publicly explain the reasons for such a move," said Vučelić.

Pavićević told "Vijesti" that they hired professional and licensed security because of the constant tensions in the mutual communications between individual members, which persisted until the session itself.

"As the president of the NGO SG CIVIS and as the organizer of the meeting, I considered it obligatory to provide acceptable conditions for the work of the session. Article 23 of the Rules of Procedure also obliged me to do so. The safety of all participants and the space, while respecting the full dignity of both members and the collective, was the primary guideline in this decision-making," said Pavićević.