Montenegro’s ‘Blocked’ Government Faces No-Confidence Motion

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic and Deputy PM Dritan Abazovic during the Independence Day celebration in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The motion was signed by 31 MPs from Black on White and Milo Djukanovic's opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, Social Democrats, minority parties and the Social Democratic Party.

According to the rules of procedure, the motion should be voted by the middle of February and must have the support of at least 41 MPs in the 81-seat chamber to pass.

"In previous months, we saw that the government does not have the support of ruling majority members, while the work of parliament is blocked. We cannot pretend that nothing is happening and that the processes are not blocked. Montenegro and its political life can no longer endure the status quo," the initiative said.

The no-confidence motion came after, on January 17, the leader of the smallest ruling bloc and Deputy PM Dritan Abazovic called for the forming of a minority government to overcome the political stalemate.

Abazovic said that the cabinet did not have the capacity to implement a reform process, claiming that a minority government would include all parties except the largest ruling coalition bloc, the Democratic Front, DF, as well as the main opposition DPS.

While all opposition parties praised the proposal as a temporary solution to the political tensions in the country, two other ruling blocs claimed that a minority government would be a betrayal of the political victory they all won together in the parliamentary elections of August 2020.

Minister of Economic Development Jakov Milatovic on Wednesday called on Abazovic to resign, claiming that it was the only ethical move to make after his initiative in parliament...

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