Montenegro’s MP’s will most probably not discuss today amendments to the Religion Freedom Law because there is no quorum, CdM has learned unofficially. The Parliament’s Rules of Procedure provides that a parliamentary sitting cannot begin without the majority of the total number of MP’s. The Montenegrin Parliament has 81 members, so to constitute a quorum the presence of 41 is necessary, just as much as the ruling majority counts.
“The quorum is required for: the beginning of the sitting, the adoption of the minutes, agreeing on the agenda and for decision-making. The President of the Parliament opens the session of the Parliament and determines whether a majority of the total number of members is present. A quorum is not required during the debate at the sitting. The quorum shall be established by applying the electronic voting system, in such a way that each MP shall be obliged to personally identify (register) themselves by inserting an identification card in the slot of the device on their parliamentary desk at their seat or based on the records of the Parliament’s Secretary-General. At the request of 10 MP’s, the quorum shall be established by roll call of MP’s. The President of the Parliament shall inform the MP’s about what MP’s have announced, i.e. reasoned their absence, as well as the persons invited to attend the sitting”, says Article 90 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament of Montenegro.
One of the MP’s of the ruling majority, Ms Maja Vukićević, who is a member of the Democratic People’s Party, is in self-isolation due to coronavirus, so the opposition MP’s will not attend the sitting. A quorum cannot be constituted online.
Should Maja Vukićević violate the Decision, she would be subject to criminal liability.
