The session of the Constitutional Committee of the Parliament of Montenegro was briefly interrupted today after a smoke bomb was activated in the hall.
The activation of the smoke bomb occurred during a heated discussion between the authorities and the opposition regarding the selection of new judges of the Constitutional Court of Montenegro.
The ruling majority believes that three judges have met the conditions for retirement and that a competition should be announced for the selection of new ones.
After the incident with the smoke bomb, the work of the Constitutional Committee continued and the parliamentary majority adopted the conclusion that an advertisement should be published for the election of two judges of the Constitutional Court elected by the Montenegrin Parliament.
It was also decided to talk to the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, in order for him to publish an advertisement for the election of two more judges whose appointment he is responsible for, Radio Television of Montenegro reported.
Representatives of the opposition called this move a “constitutional coup”.
“A constitutional coup has taken place. Its goal is to put the Constitutional Court under full control by the parliamentary majority, which aims to completely destroy Montenegro. By the New Year, the Constitution of Montenegro is expected to be amended and a law on Montenegrin citizenship is expected,” said the president of the opposition party. Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Danijel Živković.
He announced that opposition parties would block the work of the Montenegrin parliament and called on the state prosecutor to comment on today’s events.
Former Prime Minister of Montenegro Dritan Abazović accused current Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić of are introducing a dictatorship.
“Since the Constitutional Court has existed, this has never happened. This is a prelude to other actions that are intended to bring Montenegro to its knees. This is an introduction to the dictatorship of Spajić and Mandić and it cannot pass without an adequate response,” said Abazović. The Constitutional Court currently has six out of the planned seven judges, and the ruling parties believe that three of them are eligible for retirement.
The ruling party, through the Constitutional Court, wants the ban on obtaining dual citizenship lifted, while the opposition believes that by lifting the ban, almost a million people living in Serbia could obtain Montenegrin citizenship and influence the elections in Montenegro.
Photo: RTCG
