MONTENEGRO Fundamental Agreement with SPC to be reviewed for constitutionality

(Patria) - MP and candidate for President of Montenegro of the Social Democratic Party, Draginja Vuksanović Stanković, will today submit to the Constitutional Court the party's Initiative for the assessment of constitutionality and legality of the Fundamental Agreement signed by Prime Minister Dritan Abazović with the Serbian Orthodox Church in August last year, CdM learns.

According to CdM's findings from the SDP, the submission of the initiative was delayed until the formation of the Constitutional Court.

The initiative, as stated, relates only to the formal legal aspect, i.e., norms that are clearly and directly in conflict with the Constitution and laws of Montenegro.

The initiative does not delve into parts of the agreement that have clearly given the SPC significantly greater rights compared to other religious communities, nor into open issues between the SPC and the Montenegrin Orthodox Church.

Let us recall that numerous and significant remarks regarding the manner of adoption and the constitutionality and legality of the text itself were heard during the discussion and reactions after the signing by Prime Minister Abazović.

Sharp remarks were then made by political parties, CANU, law professors, non-governmental organizations dealing with democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, and prominent lawyers.

To numerous criticisms that the Government did not participate in determining the content of the agreement, but that it was delivered from the Belgrade headquarters of the SPC, and that it contains many controversial unconstitutional and illegal solutions, Prime Minister Abazović said that it was important to him that everything be in accordance with the Constitution, that he had heard the remarks, and that if anyone thought they were significant, they could challenge the agreement in court.

The SDP unofficially states that they are sure that the Constitutional Court cannot overlook the obvious and clear contradictions with the constitution and law, and that they believe that through a court decision, and confirmation of legal non-compliance, they will also reveal the true intentions of Abazović's puppet procedure – to stop Montenegro's European integration and open Balkan integration, according to, as they assess, the instructions of the leaders of Serbia and Albania.