LD in Montenegro: Opposition to Andrija Mandić was determined before the formation of the majority

The Democratic League in Montenegro has clarified its stance on the DPS/PDS initiative to dismiss the Speaker of Parliament, Andrija Mandić, stressing that this position does not arise from the recent initiative nor does it constitute support for that political entity.

Through a press release, the party said it is closely following the situation created after Mandić’s public statements and actions regarding the war criminal Ratko Mladić.

LD in Montenegro underlined that its position toward Mandić and the parliamentary majority has been built on principles and has been the same since the beginning.

According to it, opposition to Mandić’s election as head of Parliament began immediately after the agreement to form a parliamentary majority with pro-Serb entities became public, with the support of the Movement “Europe Now,” the Bosniak Party, and a part of the Albanian political entities.

“LD in Montenegro has publicly and categorically opposed this political solution,” the statement says.

The party emphasizes that the debate is not only about one individual, but about the principles that should guide the building of institutions of a democratic, civic, and European Montenegro.

This stance, LD in Montenegro says, was also communicated to the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, during consultations on the appointment of the government’s mandate-holder.

At that meeting, according to the declaration, the party had warned that it would not support the candidacy of Milojko Spajić for prime minister if the parliamentary majority would include pro-Serb entities and if Mandić would be elected Speaker of Parliament.

LD in Montenegro clarifies that this position was taken before the formation of the majority and the Government, therefore it cannot be considered a reaction to recent developments or a stance determined after the formation of the executive.

As for the DPS/PDS initiative to dismiss Mandić, the party declared that it will not join it and is not supporting any political initiative of that entity.

“LD in Montenegro is not joining the DPS/PDS initiative and it is not a matter of support for any of their political initiatives,” the statement emphasizes.

According to the Democratic League, Mandić’s recent positions and actions regarding Ratko Mladić, including honoring his figure and condolences to the family, have deepened the concerns the party had expressed earlier.

“We do not need to wait for the DPS/PDS initiative to establish what we said before the formation of the majority: Andrija Mandić should not have been elected Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro,” the statement says.

LD in Montenegro has asked Albanian and Bosniak deputies in the Parliament of Montenegro to take a clear stand on Mandić’s actions.

“Today, a partisan stance is not required of them. A principled, humane, and moral stance is required,” it continues.

The party has stressed that a moral equivalence cannot be established between victims and persons who glorify those responsible for crimes.

“For us, the right stance is one that protects the dignity of victims, historical truth, and justice, and that opposes any attempt to rehabilitate or glorify war criminals,” the statement says.

In conclusion, the Democratic League in Montenegro recalled that it is not part of the parliamentary majority, did not participate in the formation of the Government, and bears no responsibility for its decisions.

“We have not changed our stance and we are not trying today to determine ‘the side.’ We determined our stance from the very beginning,” the declaration concludes.

LD in Montenegro reiterated that it remains committed to a democratic, civic, multi-ethnic, and European Union-oriented Montenegro.