Nikolić: DPS will again propose Mandić’s dismissal — we expect obstructions

Democratic Party of Socialists MP Andrija Nikolić declared that his party will again propose the initiative for the dismissal of the Speaker of Montenegro’s Parliament, Andrija Mandić, adding that he expects obstructions from the parliamentary majority, as RTCG reports.

Speaking on TV Vijesti’s show “Načisto”, Nikolić expressed his conviction that DNP MP Milan Knežević will continue with the obstruction, although — as he said — there is a majority that does not want Mandić at the head of parliament. “Očekujem da će Milan Knežević nastaviti sa opstrukcijom, savršeno svjestan da postoji većina za to da Mandić ne bude predsjednik parlamenta”, he declared, according to RTCG.

Nikolić said PES had earlier accused DNP of hybrid attacks on the majority, while now both parties have the same mission — preserving Mandić’s seat. “Očekujemo opstrukciju, predložićemo inicijativu, ne očekujem da kolege iz DNP daju zeleno svjetlo za prohodnost te inicijative. Ali valjda u većini ima još zrelih, koji će između evropskog puta i Mandića izabrati ovo drugo”, the DPS MP added.

He promised that his party will be very persistent on this issue. “Bićemo veoma istrajni na ovoj temi” and “Lopta je na strani većine”, Nikolić stressed, according to RTCG.

The context of this initiative is the September 24 session on Mandić’s dismissal, which failed for lack of a quorum — 38 MPs were present in the hall, while 41 were needed. The DPS initiative followed Mandić’s condolence telegram after the death of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić.

Regarding former president Milo Đukanović’s telegram after the death of Slobodan Milošević, Nikolić said the two cases cannot be equated. “To se ne može dovoditi u istu ravan i kontekst je drugačiji. Da se Mandić odrekao ratnih zločinaca poput Karadžića i Mladića… možda ne bi bilo ove inicijative”, he concluded.