Podgorica, (MINA) – Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Jevto Erakovic has resigned from the position of chair of the parliamentary Anti-Corruption Committee.

“After vice-president of the DPS Ivan Vukovic resigned yesterday from the position of chair of the European Integration Committee, today I am resigning from the position of chair of the Anti-Corruption Committee”, Erakovic announced at the press conference of the DPS Parliamentary Club.

He said that this is only the first step taken by the DPS, expressing hope that the rest of the opposition would follow suit.

Erakovic believes that, in an undemocratic environment, there is no reason to continue chairing over the Anti-Corruption Committee.

He thanked all the members of the parliamentary body, as well as the Committee’s secretariat.

Erakovic assessed that “with these laws and these moves, the government’s persecution of dissidents has now become official”.

Answering a question about whether Montenegro will face the next elections under the existing legislation, bearing in mind that the DPS announced its withdrawal from the Comprehensive Electoral Reform Committee, Erakovic replied that the co-chairman of the committee, Nikola Rakocevic, had made an immeasurable contribution to the work of that parliamentary body.

“And together with certain representatives of the NGO sector, he pushed the Committee to achieve certain results, but it is obvious that other intentions and agendas are much more important in Montenegro than that”, said Erakovic.

When asked whether DPS MP Andrija Nikolic will resign from the position of chair of the Inquiry Committee before the hearing of former president Milo Djukanovic, Erakovic ssaid that they clearly stated their position towards all positions in the parliament.

“We will see what our other officials will do and how they will behave. In any case you can expect that, but at what point remains to be seen”, said Erakovic.