Andrija Mandić, the Parliament Speaker and head of the New Serbian Democracy, stated that the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) deputies, who initiated his dismissal in parliament, are the political descendants of “those who introduced organized crime and corruption to Montenegro.”

He contends that, through this initiative and their overall actions, they are serving “the same group of people who live comfortably in Montenegro and have left behind countless unsolved murders and tragedies.”

“As always, the DPS MPs attempt to portray me as the responsible party, the source of all our nation’s woes, poisoning Montenegro and its citizens with their longstanding criminal and totalitarian governance. Their unwavering agenda couldn’t persist without victims, without the persecution of dissenters, and without the suffering of those who refuse to submit to their reign of terror. It is clear their campaign of repression continues today, using the guise of state defense to divide us more than ever. They thrived on fear, hatred, and intolerance while amassing ill-gotten wealth from the citizens. The electorate rejected this twisted and captured version of Montenegro during the elections, sending the architects, supporters, and protectors of their former leader into the past. Many of their leaders are now facing detention, imprisonment, and lengthy trials,” Mandić expressed on Facebook.

He asserted that eventually, all those who broke the law and “systematically harmed this nation” will be held accountable.

Mandić mentioned that he carries no animosity towards the DPS MPs but genuinely encourages open discussions on these matters because “I deeply value democracy, and for me, the truth takes precedence.”

While he does not object to the initiative, he remarked that he would be concerned for himself as both a person and a politician if he received praise from Milo Đukanović.

“They label me as nationalistic, yet I am merely someone who, alongside my fellow Serbs, seeks to live freely in our land, striving for peace, harmony, and stability. We aren’t asking for anything beyond what we deserve, but we refuse to accept being treated as second-class citizens, which is how they perceive us. If this is troubling for DPS MPs and their allies, it would be fair for them to identify publicly as such,” Mandić added.

He expressed a desire for this initiative to “become a tradition.”

“For the umpteenth time, they have targeted my family and attempted to assign various accusations to me. I have consistently maintained that no one is above the law, including my nephew, as this is a new Montenegro, and we must adapt to that. The best counter to their empty rhetoric is the acknowledgment from prominent European leaders, including the presidents of the parliaments from France, Spain, Italy, Hungary, and many other countries. This Assembly represents a forum for free speech and dialogue; those who accuse others hastily without proof may ultimately be indicting themselves. Therefore, I would favor this initiative being presented annually by the DPS, so we receive an unambiguous response from the representatives of the majority each time,” Mandić stated.

He concluded, “The truth will ultimately prevail.”

“I genuinely believe that before endorsing this initiative, these young individuals experienced a sense of shame, possibly even a desire to apologize to the public and admit: ‘We are wrongdoers, we remain the political successors of those who ushered organized crime and corruption into Montenegro.’ Today, their actions not only reflect this initiative but serve those very individuals who exist in a much better and isolated corner of Montenegro, behind whom lie hundreds of unsolved murders. What would the citizens say? It was relatively easy for these young politicians to get trapped in this cycle back in 2020; however, emerging from it today in 2025 is challenging. Regardless of the circumstances, the truth will always come to light, and it undeniably resides with the majority in Montenegro,” the parliamentary head stated.

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