PODGORICA – Assembly of Montenegro did not debate on a motion to dismiss Speaker Andrija Mandić on Thursday because there was no quorum to open the sitting.
“A quorum is required to open a new sitting. There were 38 MPs int he chamber, or 39 including Mandić. The parliamentary administration will prepare a report”, the Secretary General of Assembly said.
According to Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) alongside opposition MPs, some members of the ruling majority were present, including MPs from the Bosniak Party and Seid Hodžić from the Europe Now Movement (PES) parliamentary group. However, it was not sufficient for the sitting to go ahead.
Members of the ruling parties gradually left the plenary. Those who remained insisted that the sitting begin and that journalists be allowed into the chamber to cover it live. Parliamentary staff did not allow journalists, camera operators or photographers onto the floor, so they followed events from the press gallery.
The motion to dismiss Mandić was initiated by the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and signed by 35 MPs. The DPS launched initiative in late August after Mandić sent a telegram of condolence to the family of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić.
Andrija Mandrić accused those seeking his dismissal of using the issue for political gain, as he said they had done in two previous attempts to remove him.
“They fear the growing integration of the Serbian community in Montenegro and the reconciliation we are building with other communities”, Mandić said, adding that “they want to bring back the tensions of the past”.
Mandić concluded that Montenegro should continue building a European future and improving the lives of all its citizens.
“This is our country too. Serbs are equal partners and will never be second-class citizens2, Mandić concluded.
Živković (DPS) No cooperation with government until session on Mandić’s dismissal is held
The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) will not cooperate with the government or the parliamentary majority until MPs are allowed to vote on the dismissal of Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić, party leader Danijel Živković said.
“We will not take part in a simulation of democracy. From today, the authorities are holding Montenegro’s political stability hostage,” he told a press conference in parliament.
Živković said he could not recall another instance in Montenegro’s parliamentary history when journalists had been barred from entering the chamber. He said the DPS would resubmit its motion to dismiss Mandić at parliament’s next regular sitting.
“As of today, he is no longer a legitimate parliament speaker. I have to say it: he is simply a coward,” Živković said.
He accused Mandić of “locking parliament” and preventing MPs from voting on his dismissal. Živković also criticised the handling of the quorum and the decision to deny journalists access to the chamber.
