Montenegro’s President Jakov Milatović signed laws adopted by the country’s parliament on Monday, rejecting criticism from some lawmakers who accused him of obstructing the country’s European Union integration path.
Milatović defended his decision after European Affairs Minister Maida Gorčević claimed he had been acting as a “main obstacle” to EU progress by publicly criticizing legislative delays.
“The citizens of Montenegro have once again witnessed that laws directly affecting daily life are passed without proper reading or debate, merely by raising hands,” Milatović said in a statement from his office. He argued that the current parliamentary composition undermines legislative scrutiny and stressed the need for open electoral lists to ensure accountability.
The president also criticized ongoing issues he said are hampering Montenegro’s EU path, including stalled judicial appointments, weak rule of law, non-transparent contracts with the UAE, economic weaknesses, and partisan employment practices.
Milatović renewed his call for Prime Minister Milojko Spajić to dismiss officials responsible for the escape of former special state prosecutor Lidija Mitrović, warning that the failure to enforce court rulings undermines public trust in the state. “Justice without accountability is not justice. A state without accountability is not a state,” he said.
Boris Pejović, secretary general of the Europe Now Movement, welcomed Milatović’s signing of the laws, describing it as a rational move that prioritizes EU integration over personal disputes. He noted that Montenegro is expected to close 20 negotiation chapters with the EU this year and urged that similar political theatrics not repeat.