DPS to initiate Mandić’s dismissal; Živković: It is time to clear the air and see whether there is a line that must not be crossed for the sake of staying in power

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) will submit to all parliamentary groups and independent MPs an initiative to dismiss the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, because he sent a condolence telegram last week following the death of Ratko Mladić, a war criminal who was convicted of genocide in a final court ruling.

DPS leader Danijel Živković announced this at a press conference, stressing that, once signed, the initiative would be formally submitted to Parliament for consideration.

- It will go down in history that the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro expressed his condolences and paid tribute following the death of a man who was finally convicted of genocide in which more than 8,000 people were killed in just a few days. This is not merely another controversial statement by a politician, but the conduct of a man speaking from the position of Speaker of the highest legislative body in this country - Živković said.

According to him, the telegram represents the moment when a line was crossed, after which it is no longer possible to turn a blind eye to the way Mandić performs one of the country’s most important state functions.

- For a long time, we have heard arguments that a distinction should be made between Mandić’s personal and political views and the office he holds, that we should take into account the stability of the government, that difficult issues should not be raised because of Montenegro’s European path, and that preserving political stability is more important than reacting to every provocation... But there are moments when silence ceases to be political wisdom and becomes acquiescence. This is one of those moments. When the Speaker of Parliament pays tribute following the death of a man who was finally convicted of genocide, we are no longer talking merely about his private beliefs, but about the dignity of the person who represents the Parliament of Montenegro - Živković stressed.

According to him, the initiative to remove Mandić is not a matter of political party interests, but a moral and civilisational obligation.

- It is an obligation to show that Montenegro’s political scene has not become so distorted in terms of its values that such an event can pass without questioning the responsibility of the head of the country’s legislative body. This is therefore not only a question of Mandić’s responsibility - we already know his position - but a test for everyone else. It is time to clear the air. To see who in Montenegro will not manipulate, at least when it comes to basic civilisational principles. To see whether there is a line that must not be crossed for the sake of positions, power and preserving the parliamentary majority - Živković said.

He stressed that he was not asking MPs and parliamentary groups to support DPS, to change the government, or to change their position towards Mandić, but simply to answer one straightforward question - can a man who, from the position of Speaker of Parliament, expresses such an attitude towards a war criminal who has been finally convicted and held responsible for genocide have their confidence to represent the parliament of a country that wants to become the next member of the European Union.

- Do not tell us after this that these are „village issues“, or that we should remain silent because of the European path. The European path is not just about closing negotiating chapters, adopting laws and ticking off obligations under the European agenda. Europe is, above all, a system of values - Živković said.

He stressed that the European path cannot be a reason to remain silent about the relativisation of war crimes, but quite the opposite.

- You cannot speak the language of European values in Brussels and remain silent in Podgorica when the Speaker of Parliament pays tribute to a man convicted of genocide. If we receive a response from the majority of the ruling parties that this must be overlooked in order to keep the parliamentary majority together, it will be clear that European integration is not a value-based commitment for the government, but political cover behind which they patch things up among themselves, trade away principles and remain in power at any cost - Živković said.

If, as he said, there are 41 votes in favour of Mandić’s dismissal, they will show that, regardless of political differences, there are lines that cannot be crossed.

- If there are not, the citizens of Montenegro will at least receive a very clear answer as to who considers preserving the parliamentary majority more important than those lines. Therefore, ultimately, this is not a test for Andrija Mandić and his politics, but for every MP in Parliament, because in the end everyone will vote by name and surname and will bear moral and political responsibility for that vote - Živković concluded.

Vuksanović: Mandić has humiliated the Parliament

Member of Parliament from the Croatian Civic Initiative, Adrijan Vuksanović, said he would support the initiative, because Mandić had humiliated the Parliament of Montenegro with this gesture.

- We will vote for Mandić’s dismissal because we believe that his gesture humiliated Parliament. If anyone believes that the EU integration process means turning a blind eye, they are mistaken. For us, this is a matter of values - Vuksanović said.

He added that it was time for the issue to be debated in the plenary chamber and for everyone to make clear where they stand and where they naturally belong.

- This is a civilisational issue because the world has clearly defined its position on the figure and deeds of a notorious war criminal, and it is time for us to do the same, individually, in the plenary chamber - Vuksanović concluded.