Podgorica, (MINA) – Montenegrin Parliament supported on Tuesday the Government’s proposal to amend the Constitution of Montenegro, including the changes concerning Judicial Council, the Prosecutorial Council and the Central Bank (CBCG), thus initiating the procedure for changing the highest legal act.

 

The proposal was supported by 74 MPs, three MPs of the Democratic People’s Party voted against, while there were no abstentions.

 

After the initiation of the procedure to amend the Constitution, drafting of the amendments and a public discussion will follow.

 

The Parliament also approved a proposal by the Constitutional Committee to prepare the draft amendments to the Constitution within four days at the latest and submit them to the Parliament.

 

The proposed amendments would regulate the composition of the Prosecutorial Council by prescribing the election of its members by a qualified majority.

 

The changes to the composition of the Judicial Council, as previously announced during the parliamentary debate, would further strengthen judicial independence by excluding the minister of justice from membership in the Council.

 

The proposed amendments would also regulate the position of the Central bank, strengthen its transparency and accountability towards the Parliament, while fully preserving the independence of that institution.

 

Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandic called on the Constitutional Committee to hold a session as soon as possible to finalize the draft amendments so that, in line with the agreement reached, the Parliament could vote on them on Thursday.

 

Chair of the Constitutional Committee Jelena Bozovic announced that she would schedule a committee’s session for Wednesday, so that the Parliament could approve the draft amendment on Thursday.