Party, not civil servant: The Ministry has no objection to the State Secretary equating the work of the party and the department

The Ministry of Defense sees nothing controversial about the fact that the State Secretary Sandra Radević, in an official statement, identified the work of that department with the party of which she is a member - the Democrats.

On Thursday, Radević, responding to a Social Democratic (SD) MP, Nikola Zirojević, in a statement from the Ministry of Defense, among other things, said that "... we in the Democrats and the Ministry of Defense advocate that these (disciplinary) procedures last shorter and be much more efficient...".

She and the SD parliamentarian "exchanged opinions" several times that day, through the media, regarding a recording of a member of the Army of Montenegro (AVCG), in which the soldier sings verses from a song about a Chetnik commander and war criminal. Dear Draža Mihailović.

From the Department of Defense, which he heads Dragan Krapović (Democrats), the day before yesterday they told "Vijesti" that the State Secretary is not an employee of that department, but a politically delegated person who performs the function within the mandate of the minister and the Government, stating that therefore, her status, rights and responsibilities differ from the status of civil servants and employees employed in the state administration.

"In this context, the State Secretary's public appearances represent not only a political and professional expression of the views of the department she represents, but also the policies implemented by the current Government. At the same time, the fact that she is a politically appointed person also implies the right to political engagement, in accordance with the applicable regulations and standards governing the performance of public functions," the response to the editorial board reads.

They added that they remain committed to professional, transparent and responsible public information, with "a clear separation of administrative and political competencies defined by law."

On the other hand, the interlocutors of "Vijesti" assessed that every public official must clearly distinguish between party and state activities, especially when acting on behalf of a system institution. They also pointed out that it is inappropriate to use wording in official communication that could create the impression of identifying a state institution with a party, and that it is problematic when the public has to analyze whether someone is speaking on behalf of the party they belong to or the ministry in which they hold a leadership position.

It's just a party. Alekse Bečić, during their opposition activities, was one of the "louder" when it came to criticizing the former regime of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which concerned the politicization of state institutions and the equalization of party and state power.

Marić: Ministries are not party organizations

Coordinator at the Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS), Boris Marić He told Vijesti that every public official must clearly distinguish between party and state activities, especially when acting on behalf of an institution of the system. He stated that ministries are not party organizations but state bodies that must equally represent all citizens, regardless of political affiliation.

"In this sense, I think it is inappropriate for the Ministry of Defense's official communication to use formulations that create the impression of identifying a state institution with a political party. Such practices have been the subject of criticism by the opposition for years, including the Democrats when they were not part of the government. There must be a clear distance between the reaction announced on behalf of a state body, specifically the Ministry, and the reaction of a political entity," Marić assessed.

The interlocutor emphasized that he believes that all political entities, when they assume responsibility for managing institutions, must demonstrate a greater degree of political consistency and institutional responsibility, and that citizens have the right to expect that state bodies act professionally, politically neutrally and in accordance with the public interest.

Speaking about the vetting process and security sector reform, Marić stated that their essence must be the depoliticization of institutions and the strengthening of professional standards.

"Otherwise, any suspicion that there is party influence may call into question the credibility of these processes, and push the integrity verification process itself into its opposite, which is a risk that must be avoided," said Marić.

The vetting process - a procedure for checking the assets of judges and prosecutors, their possible connections to crime, and their professional competence - has been promoted by the new authorities for years as a solution to the fight against high crime and corruption. Although government representatives are "full of mouths" about vetting, this process, at least officially, has not begun. However, the Democrats claim that they are implementing it in the departments they manage, while part of the public claims that it is about revenge and the collapse of institutions.

Radulović: No changes compared to DPS

Journalist at the weekly "Monitor" Zoran Radulović He told "Vijesti" that he believes that the position of state secretaries in ministries should be professionalized, that is, that it should not be the subject of political appointments.

"If we had a proper government organization, then we would have a minister and assistant ministers who are politically appointed. And it would be clear which services are professional and where their ceiling is - and in the existing hierarchy, that should include state secretaries," he said.

Radulović says that another problematic issue is when the public has to analyze whether someone is speaking on behalf of a party, or on behalf of the department in which they hold a leadership position.

"Even if it's the Ministry of Defense, which is not exactly the lowest in the hierarchy, let's just say they're helpless there...", he pointed out.

The interlocutor noted that equating party and state has recently been recognized as a characteristic of the Democrats, but that this party is not the only one that does it in this way.

"... But they have given themselves the privilege of trying to grab all kinds of merit from their departments as a party, and then they get angry when their party is blamed for what is not good in those departments. And we have become a little bit used to it, which is very bad, but it seems to me that way," Radulović assessed.

Regarding the politicization of institutions, Radulović underlined that this was one of the characteristics of the DPS rule, which the Democrats criticized when they were in opposition, but which the DPS criticizes now that it is in opposition. He states that this fact confirms the thesis that Montenegrin society has not experienced genuine changes in the way it is governed.

"We were promised a change in the system, and we live in an identical system, possibly upgraded in the direction of party power and party abuses. Because in the end, if I remember correctly, we personalized the abuses of the DPS with the leaders of that party and a few people around them. Now there is a general system, from the lowest officials to ministers and MPs," said Radulović.

"Sad" MP and "sad" department

The Ministry of Defense issued a statement on Thursday morning regarding the case of singing songs to a war criminal, saying that the soldier singing in the recording has been on sick leave for a long time, which he did not justify with remittances, and that therefore, proceedings have been initiated against him to terminate his service, while another member of the Armed Forces of Montenegro who appears in the recording has given a statement about this and proceedings have been initiated against him to determine responsibility.

Zirojević announced shortly afterwards that the dishonorable discharge of a soldier who sings a Chetnik song was being obstructed by a lieutenant colonel. VB, asking whether it was true that this member of the Armed Forces of Montenegro, in the meantime, while not coming to work, was working in tourism and running tourist tours.

Radević reacted to this, saying that there is currently no lieutenant colonel with the initials VB in the Armed Forces of Montenegro, and that Zirojević is "wasting time and embarrassing himself", to which the SD MP replied that "it is a sad department whose defense is based on the fact that VB is not a lieutenant colonel, but a colonel", adding that he had corrected the mistake.

Radević responded by saying that "the only thing that is sad" is the fact that Zirojević is an MP. She stated in the statement that the officer with the initials VB "has not performed any duty for months that could obstruct the proceedings."

"The procedure, as we said, is ongoing. The procedure is being conducted by authorized persons within the deadlines stipulated by law, entirely in the manner established by law. Does it sometimes last a longer period of time - yes, it does. However, it is we in the Democrats and the Ministry of Defense who advocate for these procedures to last shorter and be much more efficient, of course while preserving the full protection of the rights of those against whom the procedure is being conducted. You, MP Zirojević, advocate the opposite," Radević said at the time.

Radulović: We no longer compete with arguments but with loudness

Zoran Radulović said that the thing that bothered him the most was that someone who receives a state salary (Sandra Radević), who is a public official appointed by the Government - gives herself the right to assess whether it is sad or not sad that someone is an MP.

"There are some voices behind that MP. Behind the Secretary of State - I'm not sure... This type of communication where members of the executive branch heap shame and embarrassment on representatives of the legislative branch, and they similarly appreciate the work of the judiciary and executive branch - is something that is becoming a big problem for Montenegro. We are no longer competing with arguments, but with loudness and ability that will continue to spit," Radulović said.