Gjenero for NAP: Montenegro has been in a deep constitutional crisis since 2020, early elections are the solution

(Patria) - The period of political stability and Montenegro's progress towards European integration ended in August 2020, when a parliamentary majority was established by a single vote majority of parties that do not have at heart the preservation and development of the constitutional order of this country, its sovereignty and independence.

This was stated in an interview for the Patria News Agency by political analyst from Croatia Davor Gjenero, who dissected the current political situation in neighbouring Montenegro, which is becoming increasingly complicated ahead of the regular presidential elections scheduled for March 19.

The mandate of the current president Milo Đukanović expires on May 20. In several previous election cycles, it has been shown that the pro-Serbian side is strengthening. Among other things, we asked Gjenero whether these presidential elections could possibly prove to be a bulwark of Montenegro's defence against increased Serbian influence?

Entropy of institutions

- I am afraid you are right. The destruction of constitutionalism in Montenegro has been taking place from the formation of the government of Zdravko Krivokapić to the present day. Montenegro has not only lost momentum in negotiations, it has not only lost its position as a leader in the accession process among all the countries of the so-called Western Balkans, but it has fallen into a deep constitutional crisis, which has led to the entropy of all institutions - says Gjenero.

The only firm point, he assesses, was the President of the Republic, but the minimal parliamentary majority has made an effort to call into question his authority as well, by derogating his constitutional powers through a law passed by a minimal majority.

- The biggest problem is the fact that the control authority in the country has collapsed, because the country has been left without a functioning Constitutional Court, and instead of political forces concentrating on the restoration of the Constitutional Court, the Government, which already lacks parliamentary legitimacy, has done everything else, including concluding harmful contracts, such as the Basic Agreement signed with Patriarch Prvoslav Perić, contrary to the decision-making procedures in the executive branch - emphasises Gjenero.

The only way out of the crisis, he adds, is to complete the Constitutional Court and hold not only presidential but also parliamentary elections.

- You are right when you warn that an unfavourable process for a sovereign Montenegro is underway, that resignation is growing among the democratic electorate, that the relations in the electorate are being changed through manipulations of the Law on Citizenship, but also that the state budget is being used for populist operations and changes in the electorate - underlines Gjenero.

Gjenero: Regression of Montenegro (Photo: Glas Istre/Twitter)

Clerical followers of Krivokapić

The biggest one, our interlocutor continues, is related to the creation of the movement "Europe Now", a group of clerical followers of former Prime Minister Krivokapić, and that movement has, on the one hand, largely taken over the electorate of the former party of Momir Bulatović - SNP, but also of DPS of Milo Đukanović.

- Corruption was a problem of Đukanović's administration, corruption is a structural problem throughout the Balkans, and it is especially complicated in conditions when there was no change of power until 2020.

However, it is paradoxical that from Serbia, which according to Transparency International has a far less favourable corruption perception index than Montenegro (Montenegro has an index of 46 out of 100, is in 64th place and has slightly less corruption than the world average, while Serbia is in 96th place, with an index of only 38, and is above the world average in terms of corruption perception), such a strong campaign about corruption in Đukanović's administration comes - notes Gjenero.

Moreover, he adds, ever since the coalition of pro-Serbian parties took control of the legislative and executive power, Transparency International research has shown regression, not progress, in Montenegro's dealing with corruption.

- In a democratic society, crises are resolved through early parliamentary elections, and Montenegro, without a Constitutional Court, has entered a phase where constitutional and legitimate elections cannot be held. Those who wanted to threaten the constitutional order of Montenegro in the period from 2020 until today have been very successful - concludes Gjenero in an interview with Patria.

(D. Kovač)