Although Montenegro has received an invitation to join NATO and is a leader in EU integration, right now it faces serious interior political challenges. Part of the opposition has been organizing protests for months, boycotting the Parliament and demanding an interim Government. In order to implement new electoral laws, the Parliament started a political dialogue in which almost all leading parties have taken part in, as well as a number of opposition parties. Brussels supports that road in line with Report on Progress from 2015. What is your message for those participating in the dialogue?
“To avoid giving off a wrong impression, I must say – Montenegro has opened 22 chapters and this was fully justified. However, transparency demands that I remind that the most difficult phase is yet to come. Independence of court system, efficiency of public services, and further strengthening of the rule of law and democratic standards leave a lot to be done. It is also a fact that current Government made an obligation to lead the integration forward. Considering current discussions in Montenegro, I want to clearly state: issues between democrats must be resolved in the Parliament, not on the streets. That is the reason representatives were chosen, and that is something that is expected of them, by the citizens who have chosen to trust them”, Krichbaum said.
When it comes to implementation of electoral laws, the Government is closely collaborating with OEBS to ensure just conditions for the next elections.
“Political dialogue in the Parliament is crucial for this. EU institutions have no sympathies for any other way. I am positive that people of Montenegro do not either”, Krichbaum was clear.
The Government has started an initiative to vote on confidence in the Parliament, and this session is set for the beginning of next week. Various scenarios are possible, and they entail not only changes in the Government, but also in the leadership of the Parliament, depending on who will vote and what will they vote for. Krichbaum states – the dialogue is necessary.
“Possible changes in the Montenegrin political scene are interior business of your country, that I can not comment on as a foreign representative. If a country aims to get closer to democratic values of EU, political dialogue in the Parliament is necessary. This is only one of characteristics of democracy. Representatives, no matter their political goals, must understand this as a binding obligation“, he concluded.
