Yesterday’s debate in the Parliament of Montenegro regarding the dismissal of the current parliament president Andrija Mandić showed a drastic drop in support within the parliamentary majority. Mandić was originally elected with the support of 49 MPs, but only 41 voted for his retention in the position. Minority parties participating in the current government did not support him. The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) stated that the majority is undergoing a serious legitimacy crisis and that the current majority is actively undermining institutions and hindering the democratic development of the country. Additionally, DPS criticized the Higher State Prosecutor’s Office decision which, according to them, changed the qualification of the criminal act against Mandić from attempted double murder to causing general danger and inflicting serious bodily injuries. DPS views this as a politically motivated move and an instrument of the current parliamentary majority to arrest political opponents and protect actors of the current government. DPS declared it will continue to process the case before competent authorities and that a time will come when serving the law, not any government, will be the sole guide for judicial officials.
Political Perspectives:
Left: Left-leaning sources emphasize the political motivations behind the decision of the Higher Prosecutor’s Office, framing it as an abuse of judicial power by the ruling majority to suppress political opposition. They highlight the legitimacy crisis in the parliament and criticize the current government for undermining democratic institutions.
Center: Centrist sources report the facts of the parliamentary vote and the prosecutor’s decision, noting the drop in support for Mandić and the controversy surrounding the change in criminal charges. They present statements from DPS and other political actors without strong editorializing, focusing on the political implications and institutional challenges.
Right: Right-leaning sources tend to defend Andrija Mandić, portraying him as a victim of political persecution by the ruling majority and the judiciary. They emphasize the support he initially had and criticize the opposition’s attempt to remove him, framing the prosecutor’s decision as scandalous and politically motivated.
