EU proposes that the Venice Commission resolve the constitutional crisis, opposition weighs up

SOURCE: ANTENA M – AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

Ambassadors of the European Union countries met last night at 7 pm with Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and representatives of the Democratic Party of Socialists, with whom they discussed the proposal to involve the Venice Commission in resolving the constitutional crisis in Montenegro, CdM has learned. According to CdM, the DPS was against it last night, but announced that it would discuss this proposal with other opposition parties in parliament.

This proposal came from European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos, who paid an official visit to Montenegro at the end of last week.

A more specific position from the largest opposition party is expected today, after talks with other opposition parliamentary parties.

Montenegro has fallen into a constitutional crisis due to the decision of the Constitutional Committee and Parliament to retire Constitutional Court judge Dragana Đuranović and the intention of the parliamentary majority to send two more judges of that court to retirement.

Since then, the parliamentary opposition has not allowed the holding of sessions of the Parliament of Montenegro until this decision is annulled, because they believe that the Constitution has been violated.

The Venice Commission is an advisory body of the Council of Europe that deals with constitutional issues, issues opinions and recommendations that are not binding.

Montenegro has previously turned to the Venice Commission when resolving issues related to the Constitution.

For example, in December 2022, the Venice Commission recommended not to adopt amendments to the Law on the President of Montenegro because they would essentially represent a change to the Constitution, but despite this, the parliamentary majority adopted it. In May 2023, the Constitutional Court repealed these amendments.