The erosion of fundamental democratic principles persists; specifically, the opposition is hindered from utilizing established mechanisms to oversee the executive branch, as stated today by Boris Mugoša, head of the Social Democrats (SD) parliamentary group in Montenegro’s Parliament and EU representative.

The European Union reported that Mugoša “commented on the issue that, despite being a requirement under the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, the Prime Minister’s Hour was not conducted in April, and it will also not take place in May.”

According to Vijesti, the leaders of both the Government and Parliament, Milojko Spajić (Europe Now Movement) and Andrija Mandić (New Serbian Democracy), have remained silent regarding the absence of the Prime Minister’s Hour for the past two months and have provided no updates on when a session for executive oversight will occur.

Mugoša expressed on the social platform Iks that this situation further exemplifies the irresponsibility and arrogance of the ruling coalition, highlighting a disregard for the rule of law and an intentional disintegration of the separation of powers, undermining the Parliament’s oversight function.

He noted that during Spajić’s term, only seven out of 13 sessions intended for the Prime Minister’s Hour have been conducted.

Furthermore, he emphasized that the Prime Minister’s Hour was not conducted in April, despite it being mandated by the Parliament’s Rules of Procedure, nor was the Minister’s Hour held, which is dedicated to inquiries directed at ministers on specific topics; in May, again, the Prime Minister’s Hour will not take place along with ministerial inquiries.

“The erosion of basic democratic principles goes on, with the opposition obstructed from utilizing established mechanisms for executive oversight,” Mugoša stated, adding that the current majority in this parliamentary term has amended the Rules of Procedure to reduce the mandatory control hearings from two to one at the request of the opposition.

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