Montenegro’s Political Dispute Erupts Over Proposed Law Changes

Montenegro is facing significant political tension as the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has accused the Ministry of Interior (MUP) and the Democrats of spreading misinformation regarding the urgent need for legal amendments. At a press conference, DPS Vice President and Member of Parliament Jevto Eraković asserted that claims about the necessity to modify two laws are unfounded. He emphasized that the European Union Delegation in Podgorica clarified that the final benchmarks for Chapter 24 (justice, freedom, security) do not require changes to the Law on Internal Affairs or the Law on the National Security Agency.

Eraković dismissed the idea that legal amendments were essential for closing the chapter, stating there is no basis for such urgency. He noted that the opposition had previously requested to review amendments and awaited the European Commission’s stance. “It is now clear that no changes to the laws are necessary, and they should be withdrawn from the procedure until they align with GDPR and LED,” Eraković stated. He further criticized the government’s actions as a delay tactic, suggesting that some parties sought to exploit the situation to undermine constitutional norms and human rights.

Eraković underscored the opposition’s commitment to maintaining the rule of law, warning that their continued participation in committees is contingent upon the rejection of the proposed legislation. “We will not allow anyone to mock Montenegro in this manner,” he asserted, referring to the perceived inadequacies of the proposed law.

In response, Nikola Zirojević, a member of the Social Democrats (SD), accused the MUP and the Democrats of propagating falsehoods in the assembly regarding the alignment of the proposed law changes. He emphasized that the European Commission’s position contradicts claims made by the ruling coalition. “The narrative that these laws needed to be adopted on February 27 falls apart under scrutiny,” Zirojević explained, highlighting an offer from Andrija Mandić to discuss the matter on March 6.

Zirojević has called for Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to dismiss Interior Minister Danilo Šaranović due to this controversy and to reassess the Democrats’ role within the government. He warned that if the ruling majority persists in passing the amendments, they will initiate a constitutional review, citing multiple violations of constitutional provisions. “I urge the government to withdraw this police administration law, as it could pose a serious risk to our EU accession process,” Zirojević concluded.

Adding to the discourse, President of the Croatia Civic Initiative Adrijan Vuksanović reiterated that the concerns raised about the proposed amendments were validated by the European Commission. He pointed out that dissatisfaction is not only present among the opposition but also within the ruling majority and civil society organizations. “Last Friday, we resorted to actions that are not typical for us but were necessary,” Vuksanović stated, emphasizing the need for careful legislative processes moving forward.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, the future of these proposed law changes and their implications for Montenegro’s EU aspirations hang in the balance. The unfolding situation highlights the complex dynamics at play in the country’s governance and its relationships with international partners.