Montenegro’s political turmoil: Opposition blocks PM amid judicial row

Podgorica, December 21, 2024 - Montenegro’s political crisis deepened on Friday as opposition MPs halted a parliamentary session, thwarting Prime Minister Milojko Spajić’s planned address. The move comes amid mounting tensions over a controversial decision to retire Constitutional Court judges — a step the opposition has branded a “constitutional coup.”

The deadlock is sparking concerns far beyond Montenegro’s borders. The European Union has warned that the rule of law is at stake, urging all sides to respect the Constitution. “This is critical for Montenegro’s EU aspirations,” said European Commission spokesperson Guillaume Mercier.

Judges’ retirements spark uproar

At the heart of the dispute is a decision by the Constitutional Committee to end the mandate of one judge and initiate the dismissal of two others. The opposition claims these actions have plunged the country into a “deep constitutional and institutional crisis.”

Opposition MPs made their dissatisfaction clear on Friday. After storming out of the parliamentary chamber, they physically blocked Prime Minister Spajić from speaking to journalists.

President Jakov Milatović has echoed their concerns, directly blaming the Constitutional Committee for overstepping its authority. “This crisis stems from unlawful actions by the Committee, which encroached on the Constitutional Court’s jurisdiction,” he said after meeting with opposition leaders.

EU progress at risk

The political gridlock threatens to derail Montenegro’s European integration. Earlier this week, the country celebrated progress at an intergovernmental conference in Brussels, where it closed three chapters in its EU membership talks. Yet Croatia has withheld approval on a key chapter relating to foreign policy, citing unresolved wartime issues.

With only six chapters closed since Montenegro began negotiations in 2012, the latest crisis raises fresh doubts over its readiness to join the bloc.

Controversial speaker enters the fray

Adding to the chaos, parliament speaker Andrija Mandić, a staunch pro-Russian figure, declared on Wednesday that the Constitutional Court judges’ mandates had officially ended. His announcement, based on the Committee’s findings, has been criticised for deepening Montenegro’s institutional uncertainty.