The President of the Europe Now Parliamentary Group, Vasilije Čarapić, stated that Zoran Jelić’s mandate as Chairman of the Senate of the State Audit Institution (DRI) automatically expired in May of last year, as confirmed by official data from the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund (PIO).

This information is included in the response Čarapić received from the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund.

“According to the current Law on the State Audit Institution, reaching retirement age results in the automatic termination of one’s position. In Jelić’s case, the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund has explicitly reported that he gained the right to an old-age pension in May 2024, indicating that he no longer meets the qualifications for serving as a member or President of the Senate of the State Audit Institution. Despite this, Jelić continues to identify himself as the President of the Senate, referencing the Law on Civil Servants and Employees. This is not merely a technical oversight but a deliberate breach of the law, undermining the credibility of the nation’s highest audit institution,” Čarapić remarked.

He views it as scandalous that other Senate members, including the president of the Lawyers’ Association, Branislav Radulović, have remained inactive for an entire year.

“They adhere to a code of silence and neglect their own laws, despite having the legal knowledge to understand their obligation to inform Parliament about Zoran Jelić’s termination of office.” “The DRI, which should safeguard legality, is now upholding the status of a former senior DPS member without any legal grounds, perpetuating the negative practices seen in the case of Dragana Đuranović, a judge of the Constitutional Court who holds a DPS membership card,” Čarapić added.

He emphasized that the law must be applied universally; if it applies to all citizens, it must also apply to Jelić.

“Individuals from the former regime must realize that they can no longer expect privileged treatment. The time for abuses is over, and we will not permit violations of Montenegro’s legal order,” Čarapić concluded.

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