The opposition in Montenegro, led by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), blocked the January 21 session of the Parliament, where the agenda was to discuss and approve the 2025 budget.
After the Speaker of the Parliament, Andrija Mandic, opened the session, opposition MPs rose from their seats and came before him.
"Look at the conditions under which we are working, while we should be discussing an important issue. The authority of the Assembly is being called into question," said Mandic.
He warned that MPs who stood up from their seats would receive written punitive measures.
Mandic did not specify when the hearing will continue.
The opposition has been disrupting parliamentary sessions since December 20, demanding that the decision to retire Constitutional Court judge Dragana Djuranović, taken that same month, be annulled.
According to the opposition, this decision was illegal.
The EU offers assistance
The blockage of proceedings in the Parliament of Montenegro was also discussed during the official visit of the European Commissioner for Enlargement, Marta Kos, to Montenegro, who offered the European Commission's assistance in normalizing the work of the Parliament.
The EU delegation proposed the involvement of the Venice Commission - an advisory body of the Council of Europe - in resolving the constitutional and parliamentary crisis.
Although the DPS did not publicly reject this proposal, the Montenegrin Prime Minister, Milojko Spajic, accused it of anti-European activities.
Opposition MP from the Social Democrats, Nikola Zirojevic, said that there is no room for compromise when the Constitution is violated.
"I don't know how we should communicate it, write it, draw it, sing it, both with the parliamentary majority and with the EU Delegation: we do not negotiate on respecting the Constitution of Montenegro in the Parliament of Montenegro," said Zirojevic.
Opposition demands
In addition to canceling Judge Gjuranovic's retirement, the opposition also demands the signing of an agreement with the government not to amend the Constitution in the field of identity issues nor the Law on Montenegrin Citizenship.
Such changes are being demanded by the parties of the former pro-Russian Democratic Front, led by Andrija Mandic.
Specifically, they demand that Serbian become an official language, thus equalizing it with the Montenegrin language, and liberalization of citizenship, namely allowing citizens of neighboring countries to become Montenegrin citizens.
In addition to the opposition, these demands have also been opposed by Albanian parties in the Government of Montenegro.
Spajic said that they will be decided by consensus of all parties.
The opposition, on the other hand, said it will not allow the Assembly session to be held until the demands are met./ REL (A2 Televizion)
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