Compromise out of necessity under pressure: Agreement between the government and the opposition enabled the start of the process of amending the Constitution, citizens are the winners

If the agreement between the government and the opposition, which enabled the start of the procedure for amending the Constitution, ensures the continuation of European reforms and removes the blockages that have slowed down the process, then the biggest winners will be the citizens of Montenegro. Although this is perhaps the most responsible move by political actors in recent times, it would hardly have happened if the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to Montenegro had not joined the dialogue.

This was assessed by the interviewees of "Vijesti", answering the question of whether the agreement between the government and the opposition on the numerous issues that divided them, which was the overture to yesterday's vote in the Parliament that marked the beginning of the process of amending the highest legal act, is a "win-win" situation - for both the government and the opposition, but also for the citizens.

Amendments to the highest legal act are important for closing one of the key chapters in the European integration process - Chapter 23 (judiciary and fundamental rights). Podgorica is obliged to adopt a set of amendments to the highest legal act that relate to strengthening the independence of the judiciary and, among other things, to the Minister of Justice no longer being a member of the Judicial Council, the lifting of immunity for members of the Government for criminal offenses against official duty, as well as the issue of the independence of the Central Bank.

To amend the Constitution, three steps are required. First, a proposal is submitted to change the act, then draft amendments are drafted, and the final stage is the adoption of those proposals. The support of 54 members of parliament is required to “check” each of these items.

The first step, which was taken yesterday, was welcomed by numerous actors on the political scene, including the Prime Minister. Milojko Spajić and the head of parliament Andrija Mandić, as well as opposition leaders - Danijela Živković (Democratic Party of Socialists) i Damir Šehović (European Union).

ĐUKANOVIĆ: CONSISTENTLY IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT

Docent at the University "Donja Gorica" Nikoleta Djukanovic, told "Vijesti" that this is one of the rare cases when it is neither useful nor necessary to look for a political winner. She stated that, if the agreement enables the continuation of European reforms and removes the blockages that have been slowing down the process, then the biggest winners are the citizens of Montenegro.

"The government has shown a willingness to compromise, the opposition has managed to incorporate some of its demands into the agreement, and the state has avoided a new institutional crisis at a time when the European path is a priority. In that sense, this can be a 'win-win' situation, but only if the agreement is consistently implemented and does not remain just a political declaration," she assessed.

The interviewee recalled that the agreement between the two sides also envisages continued work on key reforms, including electoral rules (although there is almost no time for that) and appointments that require a broader consensus.

The agreement between the government and the opposition includes amending the laws on internal affairs and the National Security Agency (ANB) by 31 July, completing the process of amending the Constitution by 4 September, and electing the remaining two judges of the Constitutional Court without delay. It was also agreed to fill positions in institutions that require a vote in parliament, such as the Judicial and Fiscal Councils, as well as the Council of Radio Television of Montenegro. Amendments to the regulations on the police and secret service, which were agreed upon at meetings in the previous days, with the mediation of the EU Delegation, will relate to the procedure for establishing and the composition of the Commission for the Verification of Security Disturbances, as well as to strengthening the mechanisms of judicial control.

Đukanović said that the agreement shows that both the government and the opposition, despite months of conflict, have recognized that there are issues on which compromise is not a political defeat, but an institutional obligation, adding that it is a positive signal, especially in the European integration process, where, according to her, political actors are expected to have the ability to dialogue.

"At the same time, the fact that the agreement was reached only after long-term tensions shows that the political culture of compromise in Montenegro is not yet sufficiently developed. Dialogue often occurs only when it becomes clear that the political and international costs of continuing the conflict, or rather the institutional crisis, are greater than the costs of an agreement," she underlined.

When asked what the agreement reached in the "minutes to 12" and the fact that the EU Delegation had to get involved says about both the government and the opposition, Đukanović replied that it shows two things. She pointed out that the first is positive - when there is a strong enough political incentive, compromise is possible. The second, she says, is less encouraging, and that is that domestic institutions and political actors do not yet have enough capacity and mutual trust to independently resolve the most important political issues.

"The fact that the EU Delegation played an important mediating role shows that European integration continues to be the strongest common denominator of Montenegrin politics. This is good when it comes to preserving the European course, but in the long term it is not good for key political agreements to depend on external mediation. A sustainable democratic system implies that the government and the opposition themselves develop a culture of dialogue and responsibility, and not that they reach compromises only when encouraged to do so by international partners," Đukanović concluded.

BEŠIĆ: EXTERNAL PRESSURE WAS KEY

Civic activist Milena Bešić She told "Vijesti" that it is very important for the citizens and for Montenegro that an agreement was reached, because the issue of amending the Constitution is directly related to the continuation of the European path and the closing of negotiation chapters.

In this sense, Bešić assessed that the agreement is positive news and probably the most responsible move the public has seen from political actors in recent times. However, the interviewee stressed that it is unlikely that an agreement would have been reached without strong pressure and direct involvement of the EU Delegation and its head. Johan Satler.

"If we had waited exclusively for domestic democratic capacities, willingness for dialogue and political maturity, we would probably still be witnessing mutual blackmail and trade," she said.

Bešić claims that this was best seen during the prime minister's hour held the day before yesterday.

"Instead of a serious debate, citizens once again watched mutual bickering and politicians blaming each other for previous political and interest-based arrangements. This speaks volumes about the level of political culture and the real motives of a large part of the actors," she said.

The Prime Minister's Hour was marked by a debate between the leader and MP of the Democratic People's Party (DNP), Milan Knežević, and the Deputy Speaker of Parliament Boris Pejović (Europe Now Movement). Knežević claimed that Pejović, while a member of the former Democratic Front, advocated Chetnik politics, that he “suddenly became a European.” Pejović responded that Knežević was “a bastard,” and that he was in a coalition with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) in Podgorica.

Bešić pointed out that no one wanted to take responsibility for the fact that the European process was blocked precisely because of him in the run-up to the 2027 elections, adding that the government certainly wants to present Montenegro's eventual entry into the EU as its historical merit and key electoral card, and that the DPS and the European Union should not have allowed themselves to be labeled as those who blocked the process they have publicly supported for years.

"In that sense, the agreement is a kind of political compromise out of necessity, more than the result of genuine trust or democratic maturity," she underlined.

The interviewee said that the biggest "winners" are still the citizens and the European process, but not thanks to the political responsibility and culture of domestic actors, but primarily due to strong external pressure and the fact that no one dared to take the political risk of possible failure.

Knežević: DNP is the only opposition

Yesterday, 74 MPs voted in favor of starting the procedure for amending the Constitution, while three MPs voted against.

The ruling Europe Now Movement, New Serbian Democracy, Democrats, Bosniak Party, Socialist People's Party, Albanian Forum and Albanian Alliance voted "yes", as well as the opposition DPS, European Alliance, Civic Movement URA, Croatian Civic Initiative, Democratic Union of Albanians, as well as independent MPs Nikola Janović, Miodrag Laković, Radinka Ćinćur and Maja Vučelić.

DNP MPs Milan Knežević, Vladislav Bojović and Jelena Kljajević were against it.

Knežević said at the session yesterday that he and his party colleagues are "the only opposition".

"We didn't all agree and all vote, because that would be unanimity. We're not in North Korea. I hope there will be some dinner at Messrs. Satler and Felten's," he added.

Parliament leader Andrija Mandić said that he wanted to vote on the missing Constitutional Court judges yesterday, but that he hopes that this will be possible as early as Friday.