Podgorica, (MINA) – Parliament Speaker and leader of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrija Mandic said that he is almost certain that the Montenegrin Parliament MPs will support the proposed constitutional amendments by a two-thirds majority on Monday.

 

The Montenegrin Parliament finished on Friday the debate on the proposed constitutional amendments, regarding the Prosecutorial and Judicial Council, as well as the Central Bank, while the first vote will take place on Monday.

 

Representatives of the parliamentary majority said that the constitutional amendments must not be a stumbling block at the very end of Montenegro’s European path, while the opposition once again called on the authorities to respond to their platform for overcoming the political crisis.

 

Mandic said that the parliamentary majority is very constructive and that there are still two days left before Monday.

 

“I believe we will agree on everything necessary to secure a two-thirds majority for the proposed amendments to the Constitution of Montenegro”, Mandic assessed.

 

He pointed out that Montenegro wants to become the next EU member state.

 

“In order to join the EU, there are certain recommendations and requirements towards the Parliament, as well as other institutions in Montenegro. We have to show that we have strength and unity, that we can secure a two-thirds majority”, said Mandic.

 

He stressed that Montenegro has a great opportunity that should not be missed, and expressed conviction that the parliamentary majority would respond positively to the realistic demands outlined in the opposition’s platform.

 

“We can’s secure a two-thirds majority without you, but you have no right to blackmail the parliamentary majority and demand that all of your demands be fulfilled. The compromise between the majority and the opposition must be mutually acceptable”, Mandic said.

 

He expressed conviction that the opposition and the government will reach an agreement over the next two days.

 

Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) MP Andrija Nikolic said that the party has had a strategic commitment to the EU since 1998.

 

“As a parliamentary opposition, we have been very constructive during this Government’s mandate and over the past three years we have supported everything that was important for Montenegro on its European path”, said Nikolić.

 

He assessed that their constructiveness has been misused many times.

 

“We still have not received an official response from the parliamentary majority in regard to the proposal we made, which is an offer that should unite all of us on the EU path, and allow us to make some crucial decisions needed to meet the EU’s final benchmarks, such as the adoption of constitutional amendments in the area of ​​the judiciary, the appointment of Constitutional Court judges and members of the Judicial Council”, said Nikolic.

 

Europe Now Movement (PES) MP Tonci Janovic said that he sees absolutely no reason for anyone presenting themselves as a pro-European party to be an obstacle to this process.

 

He said that the proposed constitutional amendments are not related to any identity issue, such as the issue of flag, anthem or any other divisive issue.

 

DPS MP Elvir Zvrko recalled that on February 19 the Government adopted the proposal to amend the Constitution regarding the Prosecutorial and Judicial Council, and on March 5 the concerning the Central Bank.

 

“However, the Constitutional Committee discussed these Government proposals only four months later, on June 15. Now the impression of a “D-day” is being created due to the government’s irresponsible attitude towards its existing obligations” said Zvrko.

 

Democratic People’s Party (DNP) MP Milan Knezevic said that “the Constitution is the most anti-Serbian document in the history of Montenegro”.

 

“A document that does not recognize the Serbian language as an official language, tricolor as a national flag or dual citizenship, a document for which no Serbian MP voted in 2007”, stated Knezevic, adding that the DNP would not support constitutional amendments.

 

Independent MP Miodrag Lakovic said that the parliamentary majority adopted two legal solutions in March not only against to the opposition’s views, but against the views of the NGO sector, the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, as well as the concerns expressed by the European Parliament.

 

Lakovic said that the government is turning a blind eye to the need for dialogue and compromise in order to secure broad support for constitutional amendments needed to close the remaining negotiating chapters.