Good morning! It could be said that Andrej Milovic launched a real blitzkrieg in the judiciary. He is also doing well politically. Some who, until just a few months ago, reported on his alleged controversial meetings in Belgrade, are now eating out of his hand. Joking aside, the question is, do these rapid changes bring with them quality?
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Is end of judicial blockade in sight?
The judiciary seems to be the priority of all the priorities of the new government. And that’s good. With the appointment of the judge of the Constitutional Court, the announcements about the quick appointment of the Supreme State Prosecutor (VDT) in the Judicial Council, it seems that the new government and the new majority will rather quickly solve the problem that has long stood around the neck of Montenegro’s progress towards the EU. Are these changes of good quality or is it just a matter of political checking boxes of obligations?
The day before yesterday, Faruk Resulbegovic was elected as the missing seventh judge of the Constitutional Court. Thus, the Constitutional Court was completed and the risk of a blockage in decision-making was overcome. A broad consensus was reached and part of the opposition voted for him. The only dissonant tone came from the Bosniak Party, which complained about the low representation of Bosniaks in the judiciary. The ethnic comment also came from Slaven Radunovic, who was the only one to emphasize Resulbegovic’s ethnicity and the fact that an Albanian was elected as a judge of the Constitutional Court for the first time. If this is an honest comment and not a call for ethnic keys in institutions, then it should be welcomed. However, I don’t believe in Radunovic’s sudden change of ideology.
Minister Milovic announced another big thing, which is the election of VDT and said that there was a great possibility that it would be Milorad Markovic. Although his name is unknown to the general public, Markovic is known to the professional legal public. Milovic rightly sees the fact that he has not been in the judiciary until now as Markovic’s advantage. Markovic works at the Faculty of Law, where he is a teaching assistant, if the information on his LinkedIn profile is correct, and in the office of GIZ, the German development agency in Montenegro. Markovic was a candidate before, but he did not pass the Prosecutor’s Council, and those who voted against him criticized his lack of experience in the prosecution, although they did not dispute his rich legal career.
Yesterday, the public was also intrigued by the news that the famous Maybach, which is jokingly said to be the only one that has not been sold yet, was given to Special State Prosecutor Novovic for use. Although symbolic, this is a very good message. Aside from the fact that it is a car with the highest degree of protection, the fact that the most luxurious resource is handed over to the holders of judicial positions may be a signal that this country is becoming a country of the rule of law, and not the rule of politicians and political parties. Only if they are accompanied by investments in other resources of judicial authorities. Because maybe it’s for nothing if cases rot in musty and moldy warehouses that only tunnel diggers can access.
Prosecutor Novovic took on a very serious and at this time dangerous position. Thus, he has knowingly sacrificed his comfort and the life of his family. It is very important that society recognizes and protects the holder of such an important position. Mr. Novovic, on the other hand, has yet to prove his impartiality and commitment to the difficult task he has taken up. I had doubts about Novovic’s integrity mostly because of some earlier moments like with Jehovah’s Witnesses. Integrity is not only resistance to monetary corruption, but also to political and religious impartiality. However, for now, a lot has been done by the prosecution. It is time for the courts to do their part.
The prosecution and the judiciary should find a way to communicate with the public more often and more clearly. As for working conditions, that should never be an excuse. If there’s a will, there’s a way.
That’s it for today and this week. We wish you a pleasant weekend. See you again on Monday.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM analyst and columnist
(The opinions and views of the authors of the columns are not necessarily those of the CdM editorial staff)
