Nikolić: Two Questions Likely to be Sent to the Venice Commission with Two Explanations

AUTHOR: M.J. GDNUS

Member of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Andrija Nikolić, stated that the "cowardly parliamentary majority is aware that its end is near" and is doing everything it can to prevent the parliamentary opposition from having a voice.

He made these comments during a press conference in front of the DPS parliamentary club.

- "At the last minute, they remembered to take away the opposition's right to ask ministers questions. For days, they have been talking about how parliamentary democracy should be inclusive, but now they've decided to exclude it," said Nikolić.

He explained that the reason given by the Speaker's office for this decision related solely to distancing measures, but there was no prior announcement about such treatment of the opposition regarding the Prime Minister's Hour and the right to ask questions to the Prime Minister and ministers.

Nikolić questioned why the Administrative Committee took so long to decide on stripping Marko Kovačević of his immunity, where the investor from the Nikšić Steelworks is, and how much the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO) owes for the first few months of 2025.

- "These are just some of the questions they want to sweep under the rug, which is why our right to ask questions is being taken away. They need to do everything they can to keep their seats," added Nikolić.

When asked about the request to the Venice Commission, he said they were aware that time was running out.

- "We contacted Miloš Vukčević, who informed us that he submitted a draft text on Friday. We were then informed that there is ongoing coordination within the parliamentary majority. The latest information is that two questions with two explanations will likely be sent, and we believe that by the end of today or tomorrow, conditions will be met for Spajić to sign it," Nikolić explained.

Nikolić also responded to a question about the removal of the right to ask questions during the Prime Minister's Hour, stating that if a deal to overcome the parliamentary and constitutional crisis was being signed, it would be logical not to make such decisions.

- "This is a last-minute invention to avoid the compromise of policies ahead of the Nikšić elections. This is a decision they made against themselves, and whether or not we have opposition in Parliament during Prime Minister's Hour, it won’t stop us from exercising our procedural rights," concluded Nikolić.