English

Interference of the church in the formation of the government is humiliating for Montenegro

Aleksandar Olenik

No one is waging media hybrid war with the assistance of the Serbian Orthodox Church and against Montenegro, only to allow somebody else to render key political decisions, even if it is the current majority in the parliament. The decisive aid in the pre-election campaign is now due to be charged, said in the interview for Dnevne novine civil activist in Serbia and lawyer, Mr Aleksandar Olenik, commenting on the meeting between Metropolitan Amfilohije and bishop Jaonikije with Serbia’s president, Mr Aleksandar Vučić. Dnevne novine interlocutor says that interference of SOC in the elections in Montenegro, its active participation in the formation of the new government is “humiliation for the Montenegrin citizens and their state”.

Representatives of the political subjects that won the majority in the elections held meeting with the Metropolitan in the Ostrog Monastery, where they discussed staff issues in the new government. What do you think about post-election situation in Montenegro?

Mr Olenik: The location of the meeting does not matter, it could take place on a meadow, which would be good under the present pandemic circumstances. Participants in the meeting are problem. If SOC didn’t take part in the elections, then what is the role of the two high officials of SOC? What does give the church legitimacy to publicly appoint state functionaries in MNE? I think that’s humiliation for Montenegro. Not only should not church deal with politics, but it also should not take active part and appoint future holders of major state functions. This is consequence of the hybrid war against Montenegro, and is directly led by Mr Aleksandar Vučić, with the assistance of nationalists from the opposition and all representatives of boycott in Serbia.

What else is this post-election period characterized by?

Mr Olenik: Democratic and European behavior of the former government, which has demonstrated that Montenegro is a civil and democratic state and that it has earned its place among states of the West Europe. As a lawyer and politician, I didn’t expect anything less than that. Hopefully, Serbia will look up to Montenegro and North Macedonia.

In your opinion, what is the new parliament characterized by?

Mr Olenik: It is evident that MPs representing civil and European policy have majority in relation to Serbian nationalists who essentially represent Mr Vučić and SOC. At the same time, representatives of the European, civil and democratic policy are in large majority and a long internal political fight is ahead of them.

How do you explain civil parties’ support, whose initiator is a priest?

Mr Olenik: That’s very hard to explain, maybe even impossible. However, before thorough political analysis, we must see government’s response. In our opinion, there are two basic political ways of the new government. The first implies adherence to the Constitution and civil character of Montenegro and the second is the return to nationalism and abandonment of the state’s order, which would lead the country to destruction. Therefore, all civil parties are responsible and faced with many temptations.

There are obviously some disagreements among coalitions that won the majority, especially between DF and URA? What will be the denoument, in your opinion?

Mr Olenik: It’s hard to predict the denoument. I believe URA is likely to show the strength and the vision and not succumb to pressures from church and nationalistic circles. In our opinion, nationality of the future ministers doesn’t matter, but their politics does. If URA gave up on the civil policy, that would be its political end. The problem might arise if church nationalists, supported by official Belgrade and nationalistic opposition in Belgrade, gain momentum and strength over time and ditch URA. That danger is real and this political subject takes on gear share of responsibility.

DPS lost the elections, but it’s still the strongest political party. On the other side, president Milo Đukanović says that he will fight by any means necessary against anybody’s attempt to undermine civil, secular and Euro-Atlantic Montenegro. What will incoming months bring us?

Mr Olenik: President’s first steps are expected. The real test for the civil Montenegro and DPS will be next presidential elections. I am not worried about the future of DPS and civil society in Montenegro.

What’s your comment on the meeting between Mr Amfilohije and bishop Joanikije and Mr Vučić?

Mr Olenik: No one is waging media hybrid war with the assistance of the Serbian Orthodox Church and against Montenegro, only to allow somebody else to render key political decisions, even if it is the current majority in the parliament. The decisive aid in the pre-election campaign is now due to be charged.

Charged by who?

Mr Olenik: I think this mostly refers to DF, that is, church nationalists within coalition, and less to its civil part. The intention to formally maintain that European and civil policy is quite clear. Heads of various security services tasked with protecting civil order are particularly important. If these services take active part in internal dissolution of Montenegro as civil state, then it doesn’t matter who the minister is and what the proclaimed policy is going to be. Such intentions of Serbian nationalists are real danger and the meetings you have mentioned are not aimed at reinforcing civil character of the Montenegrin state. It is justifiable to warn that the country must be protected by any means necessary.

Media have released a video showing new candidate for prime minister-designate, in the house of the convicted terrorist, Nikola Kavaja. He explained that “Kavaja is the symbol of resistance to a dictator”. What do you say about this? What can we expect when he becomes prime minister?

Mr Olenik: Mr Krivokapić is the candidate of the church and a nationalist. I expect that he will try to conduct the policy he was supported for by the church and Serbian nationalists. Anything else would surprise me.

Mr Krivokapić’s statements provoked many reactions. SDP sent an open letter to EU embassies asking them to express their view. However, international community remains silent to interference of SOC and its political activities…

Mr Olenik: There’s impression that international community firmly believes that it can control the church and nationalists and I hope it is right, because we had opportunity to see what it looks like when nationalists and church become dominant.

ONLY DECEASED STAFF OF MILOŠEVIĆ AND ŠEŠELJ DOESN’T TAKE PART IN THE GOVERNMENT

Serbia’s president is emphasizing the importance of the census. The campaign has already begun. Is the SOC the main lever for the achievement of the projected objective that Serbs must be the most numerous nation in Montenegro?

Mr Olenik: Mr Aleksandar Vučić is political successor of Miloševič and Šešelj, and he doesn’t hide that. In Serbia, we are witnessing a total restoration of Milošević’s politics and his people. Only the deceased ones don’t take part in the government. They are pursuing the same policy, with new methods. They have never changed the view on Montenegro and, in their opinion, it is only part of Serbia, while Serbia itself is the representative of Russian interests in the Balkans.

It is essential that international community realizes this before it’s too late. That’s why I’m committed to creating civil, western and democratic colony in Serbia because, at the moment, the EU has nobody to support in Serbia.

DF is fiercely opposing marginalization of their election result. How can that opposition impact formation of the government and its functioning?

Mr Olenik: I am sure the government will be formed easily. DF gained support for nationalistic politics and they are obliged to conduct it. Any other form of behavior would be abuse of the democracy in MNE. Their plan is pretty simple. They don’t intend to oppose democratic and civil order of the state formally, but they want to undermine political influence of DPS by appointing their people and abusing executive power and the media.

 

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