Podgorica, (MINA) – The government is purging the security system with the aim of turning emancipated and modern Montenegro into a police state, leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Danijel Zivkovic claims, while Minister of Internal Affairs Danilo Saranovic rejects the accusations, saying that the police badge will no longer serve as a cover for criminal activities.

Parliament of Montenegro MPs discussed on Friday the amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs and the Law on the National Security Agency (ANB), proposed by the Government.

Saranovic said that malicious and manipulative interpretations could be heard recently regarding the statement issued by the EU Delegation on the proposed laws.

“Both laws have been for months harmonized with the European Commission (EC), and the amendments to both laws are the result of work with the Commission’s experts, and that is what I based my position on”, said Saranovic.

He recalled that the EU Delegation stated that the Law on Internal Affairs, as well as the Law on ANB, could be adopted.

“Despite manipulations by certain political actors claiming that the EC said that the Parliament should not adopt these laws, it clearly said that Montenegro can choose one of two options – either to adopt these laws and in the meantime harmonize them with the GDPR and LED, or to adopt those directives first and then to adopt these laws”, Saranovic said.

He said that he had been correct in saying that Montenegro cannot meet the final benchmarks in EU negotiations without amendments to the Law on Internal Affairs.

Zivkovic said that, although the parliamentary majority declars support for EU membership, there is no genuine effort to bring Montenegro into the EU, but a need for the government to deal with its opponents.

“I don’t know many officials or police officers in Montenegro, I have no need to defend anyone. You are purging the security system as you see fit, obviously with the aim of turning the emancipated and modern Montenegro into a police state”, said Zivkovic.

He said that this is a completely wrong path and that all reforms can be carried out through transparent, legal and orderly initiatives.

“If this is adopted today, the hand extended for joint efforts on the European path will be withdrawn. As far as we are concerned, we will no longer participate in the Electoral Reform Committee, and the Deputy Speaker does not need to participate in simulating democracy as a chair of the Committee for European Integration and Anti-Corruption”, stated Zivkovic.

Saranovic, responding to Zivkovic, said that it is important for him to protect the professional integrity of his associates.

Responding to the accusation that they are working to create a police state, Saranovic said that the security sector had restored the trust of the international intelligence community.

Chief of the Police Lazar Scepanovic said that the police legal team had been a co-author of the Law on Internal Affairs and noted that there was a debate over certain provisions of the law, namely the existence of security obstacles to continue work in the police forces.

He pointed out that this law is democratic, flexible and designed to support reforms in the Police Administration and prevent the infiltration of organized crime and corruption in the security system.

MP Miodrag Lakovic of the Europe Now Movement (PES) said that he would not support the proposed legislation.

He noted that there are many honest people in the service, but also individuals who “tarnish the police badge and uniform”.

Lakovic pointed out that representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the police often argue that the service is compromised and that there are many dirty personnel.

“I see a certain paradox here – that the state achieves such good results with a service which is supposedly so tainted”, said Lakovic.