MPs have the right to convey their messages in various ways, opposition MPs in particular, even in unusual, unconventional ways.
However, the rest of the parliamentary performance last Friday was torturesome, violent, unnecessary, rude and inappropriate for our parliamentary life.
MPs from Democratic Front have contributed to this, two of them most significantly, but the Prime Minister as well, by responding them in a similar fashion.
Democratic Front has clearly acted in accordance with their plan (for the election campaign) to:
1. Present themselves as the only hard-line opposition
2. Prolong further the agony of the formation of a transitional government
3. Marginalize moderate opposition actors, which usually happens when the political debate is being radicalized.
Unfortunately, the events of this type are favorable for DPS and feed their position as alleged guardians of order. So does DF in their attempt to convince the public that direct and indirect violence is permitted and the ultimate method for taking over the power from DPS.
However, the Parliament must be functional, particularly at this moment where it has a crucial role in helping resolving the current political crisis, the election of the new government and at least partial and gradual return of trust in the electoral process.
Political streams in the country cannot be determined by the group that has less than 10% of support of the electoral body. Things have simply changed since the last elections, the number of parliamentarians does not correspond to the current power of political figures in the electoral body, and most of the citizens are reluctant in supporting radical solutions.
Actions that are necessary to be pursued:
1. speeding up the process of forming the new government; as well as pursuing other nominations, NSA general inspector at first, as well as filing other positions in the state and local administration without the obstructions of the government and DPS,
2. continuing regular parliamentary activities and adoption of pending laws, including media laws,
3. strengthening parliamentary supervision of the government and providing the opportunity for the opposition that does not make part of the transitional government to track this process,
4. continuing preparation of elections including strict controls and audits of the electoral list and affined database and registrar,
5. strengthening the organized work of the Police and the Prosecution in uncovering organized groups that have an impact on the citizens’ electoral will,
6. not obstructing the process of the European integration obligations in the Government or in the Parliament, which is demanded and expected by the European Commission, and it is, first of all, in the interest of Montenegro’s citizens.
Finally, representatives of the opposition in the transitional Government and in other functions in the public administration system must, if the public support is deemed needed, regularly, responsibly, in an organized manner and professionally inform the public on its work and results for their work.
The opposition parties must, if they want to oppose the ruling DPS in a more serious manner, make a final decision on possible coalitions prior to elections, make the decision public and start working on an electoral campaign that requires much more time than there is left until the election day.
Stevo MUK
President of the Managing Board
The text is originally published in the “Forum” section of the Daily Vijesti
