Montenegro’s opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) said on Wednesday that support for Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić has “drastically declined,” warning that the ruling parliamentary majority is facing a “serious legitimacy crisis.”
DPS noted that Mandić was elected speaker with the backing of 49 lawmakers, but only 41 voted to keep him in office during Tuesday’s parliamentary session. Minority parties that are part of the current government abstained, further exposing rifts within the ruling bloc.
“The only thing holding the majority together is access to power and privilege — at the cost of democratic institutions and progress,” the party said in a statement.
DPS also strongly criticized the High State Prosecutor’s Office for what it called a “scandalous decision” to reclassify a previous case. A recent ruling downgraded charges from attempted double murder to endangerment and grievous bodily harm — a move the DPS alleges was made under pressure from Mandić.
“This confirms our long-standing claim that the state prosecution has become a tool of the ruling majority — used to detain political opponents and shield allies of the government,” the statement said.
DPS pledged to continue documenting abuses and pursuing legal accountability: “There will come a time when serving the law — not any particular government — will be the sole guiding principle of the judiciary.”