Milan Popovic Nominated for Senate Position After Rival Withdraws

A significant shift occurred in the nomination process for the Senate of the State Audit Institution (DRI) as Milan Popovic has been proposed as a candidate following the withdrawal of Predrag Radunovic. Radunovic, who holds a master’s degree in economics and serves as the head of internal audit at the Rectorate, opted out of the candidacy on October 10, 2023. This decision prompted the parliamentary committee on economy, finance, and budget to recommend Popovic as the fifth senator.

The nomination has drawn criticism from opposition members, who argue that the situation is unprecedented. They highlighted that it is unusual for a committee to propose a candidate who subsequently withdraws. Opposition representatives assert that the integrity of the selection process has been compromised. Milos Konatar from the United Reform Action (URA) expressed concerns about the dignity of all candidates and emphasized the presence of qualified individuals among them.

Nikola Milovic from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) voiced fears that the process may favor politically suitable candidates over the most qualified ones. He stated, “Today, the majority wishes to annul the decision on the senator’s election and return us to reevaluate the remaining candidates.” Milovic noted that they received an email from Popovic, who pointed out significant flaws in the nomination process and urged against his own candidacy.

The chair of the committee, Boris Mugosa from the Socialist Democratic Party (SD), characterized the situation as a setback for dialogue. He remarked that the absence of discussion during candidate nominations is detrimental. Zdenka Popovic from the Democrats emphasized that clearer procedures need to be established for such scenarios, suggesting that future legislation might address these gaps.

The opposition previously opposed Radunovic’s candidacy, arguing that he lacked the requisite experience for the role as outlined in the public competition. They contested his claim of having sufficient work experience, questioning the validity of a nine-month training period counting towards his total. Radunovic submitted a letter to the committee two days after his nomination, stating his withdrawal in order to avoid casting doubt on the institution’s integrity. He expressed gratitude for being regarded as a competent candidate but felt it was necessary to step back.

Popovic is now in contention for the Senate position for the second time, having previously withdrawn his candidacy two years ago after an interview with the committee. Notably, he and the current senator, Sinisa Cajdenovic, initiated a motion to assess the constitutionality of several articles in the DRI Law, particularly those regarding the permanence of senator mandates.

This time, Popovic faces competition from Jadranka Delibasovic, who is vying for the position for the third time, and other candidates including Dragan Bulatovic, Dobrila Glomazic, Svetlana Krgovic, and Zeljko Vidakovic. Additionally, several state auditors, including Melita Suljevic, Marina Vujic, Predrag Radunovic, and Danijela Papic, have also applied for the position.

The ongoing discussions surrounding this nomination process underscore the critical importance of transparency and integrity in public office appointments. As the situation develops, it remains to be seen how the parliamentary assembly will navigate the complexities of selecting a new senator amidst these challenges.