Spajić skips Parliament: Sends Minister Without Portfolio to present Government reshuffle proposal

This is a caricature of Parliament. What we are witnessing today is the greatest humiliation of this institution that I have experienced since becoming an MP – said head of the parliamentary group of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Andrija Nikolić, after Prime Minister Milojko Spajić failed to attend the parliamentary session convened to debate the latest government reshuffle.

Under the proposed reshuffle, Jelena Borovinić-Bojović, Radoš Zečević, Zoran Jojić and Jovan Jole Vučurović would join the Cabinet. Instead of appearing in person, Spajić delegated Minister without Portfolio Milutin Butorović to present and defend the proposal before lawmakers.

Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić granted a 15-minute recess at Nikolić's request so that parliamentary group leaders could hold a consultative meeting. However, no agreement was reached.

- We have concluded a very difficult meeting of the parliamentary leadership. No consensus was achieved, and we will proceed in accordance with the Speaker's authority under the Rules of Procedure. Therefore, I will now give the floor to Mr Butorović - Mandić said.

Nikolić insisted that it was simply unacceptable for a minister without portfolio to present and justify a proposal for restructuring the Government.

- Nothing new in the West. This Government began its mandate with the Prime Minister refusing to present his inaugural policy address to the citizens of Montenegro. That was the first serious act of disrespect towards Parliament and the public, and the pattern has continued. First, he failed to attend Prime Minister's Question Time on seven occasions. Yesterday, we received a single sheet of paper listing four names, without any explanation as to why these individuals were nominated to become ministers and deputy prime ministers - Nikolić said.

He added that even a private company would not hire someone without first receiving their CV.

- We do not know what the motives are. Today he has sent a minister without portfolio to explain the Prime Minister's proposal. Do you realise what you are agreeing to simply to spare Mr Spajić the discomfort of answering MPs' questions about the reasons for this reshuffle? This is disrespect for Parliament's Rules of Procedure, the Constitution, MPs and the citizens. I request that we convene a meeting of parliamentary leaders to decide whether and how this session should proceed. Yesterday, you never informed us that Mr Spajić would not attend Parliament. We all expected him to explain the proposal himself and participate in the debate - Nikolić said.

He added that MPs should not have to speculate whether the Prime Minister would appear, nor why yesterday's sitting had been postponed until today. Following his remarks, Mandić called the 15-minute recess.

Mandić also informed Parliament that Nikola Zirojević, an MP from the Social Democrats and the European Alliance, had received a letter threatening his life.

- On behalf of Parliament, I call on the competent authorities to do their job and ensure that every member of this Parliament can perform their duties and express their views freely and safely - Mandić said.

„Mandić demanded the reshuffle in exchange for constitutional changes“

DPS leader Danijel Živković described the reshuffle as political compensation, arguing that Andrija Mandić had effectively presented Spajić with an ultimatum: „You will not get constitutional changes until I get my government reshuffle“, adding that this is nothing more than political trading.

- Spajić deliberately avoided facing Parliament. It would have been entirely logical for the Prime Minister to explain his motives for this reshuffle. Is it about satisfying political interests, fulfilling ambitions or feeding personal egos? Those motives should have been explained. It is difficult to convince me that a minister without portfolio knows what the Prime Minister's real reasons are. By avoiding this debate, he has not humiliated the opposition - he has humiliated you, the parliamentary majority, particularly the Europe Now Movement, whose leader he is - Živković said.

He added that although the debate might be uncomfortable, members of the ruling majority had an obligation to hear the arguments.

- Today we are not debating pensions, salaries, economic liquidity or new investments. We are not discussing the enormous problems facing our healthcare system. Instead, we are debating yet another increase in the size of the Government, more ministers, more secretaries, more official cars, more hospitality budgets, more drivers and an ever-expanding administrative apparatus. Today we are deciding whether to continue political patronage, abuse of state resources and the distribution of public offices - he said.

According to Živković, this is already the third government reshuffle since the current administration took office.

- You will find it difficult to convince me that this is a stable government. It resembles a television shopping channel more than a functioning cabinet. You barely meet in person and hold government sessions through WhatsApp groups - that is your standard of responsibility towards citizens. Today we are debating whether the Government should have a total of 34 members, including seven deputy prime ministers. As I understand it, we will also have two ministers without portfolio - he added.

Živković then compared Montenegro's cabinet to governments in other countries, saying the United States Government has 15 cabinet secretaries and serves a population of 340 million.

- Germany has 16 ministers for 85 million people. Austria has 15 ministers for a population of nine million. China has 24 ministers serving 1.4 billion people. Meanwhile, the Government of Montenegro will have 34 members and seven deputy prime ministers - 56 times more government members per capita than the United States. If this is what you voted for, then good luck - Živković concluded.