Podgorica, (MINA) – The Parliament of Montenegro has adopted draft amendments to the Constitution concerning the Prosecutorial Council, the Judicial Council and the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG).

 

The draft amendments from 17 to 21, established by the Constitutional Committee on Wednesday, were adopted with 70 votes in favor, while two MPs of the Democratic People’s Party voted against.

 

Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) leader Danijel Zivkovic said that the Constitution is part of a broader social consensus and cannot be amended without agreement between the government and the opposition.

 

He warned of the risk of the proposed amendments concerning the Prosecutorial Council.

 

“Why do we often refer to the fourth branch of government? Everyone in this room is aware of the risk that lurks in this kind of constitutional solution when it comes to the Prosecutorial Council”, said Zivkovic.

 

According to him, the prosecutorial service has been given the authority to initiate investigations and prosecute ministers or prime ministers suspected of high-level corruption or abuse of office.

 

“This is not criticism. This is a topic that deserves serious consideration, as it is dangerous to enter the sphere of the impossibility to control the branches of government that think that they are beyond scrutiny”, said Zivkovic.

 

Civic Movement URA MP Zoran Mikic said that his party has no problem to vote for every decision that is important for the country’s European path, for every decision that is good for the state and its citizens, and that they do not think that anyone should be a mediator on matters of national importance, such as European path or citizens’ living standard.

 

He agrees that the most problematic aspect about the proposed amendments is that they would concentrate a lot of power in the hands of Supreme State Prosecutor’s Office.

 

The Socialist People’s Party (SNP) MP Bogdan Bozovic said that the most important issue arising from the negotiations on constitutional amendments is that they have demonstrated sufficient maturity to resolve issues of national importance through compromise.

 

“We believe that compromise and dialogue can provide a solution to issues that have been open for decades and that divide and burden the society. If we want genuine reconciliation, we must also discuss identity-related issues. I am referring to the status of the Serbian language in Montenegro, which is not adequate”, said Bozovic, adding that the SNP also believes that a dialogue should be opened on the tricolor flag.

 

Leader of the Democratic People’s Party, Milan Knezevic, said that the essence of the constitutional amendments is that the Serbian language cannot become an official language in the EU, unless recognized as an official language in Montenegro.

 

“The bottom line is this: if Montenegro joins the EU while the Serbian language is not official language, only Montenegrin will become an official language and Serbian never will”, said Knezevic.

 

He added that it is an attempt to “erase the Serbian people as a nation-building nation”.

 

European Alliance MP Boris Mugosa said that a key stage in adopting constitutional amendments is yet to follow with a public debate, where the experts would be involved in reviewing them.

 

Following the adoption of the draft amendments, a public debate will be opened that will last until August 10.

 

Once the public debate concludes, the Constitutional Committee will determine the proposed amendments, which will then return to the Parliament for a final vote, and their adoption will gains require a two-thirds majority.