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PM Marković after Law adoption: We will make sure that everything runs smoothly

Published on: Dec 27, 2019 • 10:12 AM Author: PR Service
Prime Minister Duško Marković said after adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion or Belief and Legal Status of Religious Communities that the act of the Democratic Front MPs was irresponsible, but added that he did not expect the situation to be radicalised and that the authorities would ensure that everything runs smoothly in the country. 

"I deplore the irresponsible attitude towards the Parliament and, of course, towards the topic that prompted Democratic Front MPs to do so. I believe that today's Montenegro, Montenegro in the 21st century does not need such political behavior and action in the Montenegrin Parliament. We do not need "Šešeljization" of the Montenegrin Parliament. We need dialogue when we differ, because in that dialogue the differences can be smaller and the level of understanding greater. Therefore, I condemn this act, it is inappropriate and irresponsible towards other MPs and irresponsible towards the citizens of Montenegro, but I believe that this will be a good experience for everyone and that this will never happen again," the Prime Minister told journalists following adoption of the law.

PM Marković said that the Government today has shown the ability to provide high-quality dialogue on a sensitive but important issue.

"You are witnessing that in the course of that dialogue I was trying to find connecting points within our differences, that during the session I accepted the initiative to meet with the Metropolitan. We exchanged arguments, and of course continued our work in the Parliament. You saw that the proposals coming from the Democratic Front were blackmail - take it or leave it. In such an environment, we could not understand their interest in amending legal solutions. The law is adopted. The law and the solutions in it are for the good of all citizens, the good of all believers and of course atheists, it will strengthen our effort to make Montenegro a free and democratic society in which believers will have all rights, but these rights cannot jeopardize the rights of others," the Prime Minister said.

Prime Minister Marković informed the citizens of Montenegro that the state is capable of providing peace and stability even when such situations occur, and thanked the huge number of citizens for the continued support he received during the debate.

"I want to thank them for their patience and for not responding to the Democratic Front's call to take to the streets and block roads and endanger the ordinary lives of other citizens. Therefore, I express full gratitude to the citizens of Montenegro for their trust. I, as the Prime Minister, guarantee them peace and stability. They have no reason to worry about it," the Prime Minister said.

Asked by journalists if there could be unrest, the Prime Minister said he did not believe it was possible.

"You know that the citizens did not take to the streets on their own and it was not their response to what was happening in the Parliament, but rather to the clear, direct call of the Democratic Front leaders to take to the streets and thus exert pressure on the MPs not to vote for this law, and exert pressure on the Government to withdraw the law. This is a misunderstanding of both the policies and the need that in Montenegro, within a political and democratic dialogue, one cannot function on the basis of blackmail, nor can use priests to influence the civilian authorities to exercise their constitutional power or to pass laws. So, I do not believe in the unrest in Montenegro at all, I do not believe in the instability of Montenegro," the Prime Minister said.

PM Marković urged the citizens on the streets to return to their homes within a reasonable time.

"If the request of the authorities is not heard, the state of Montenegro or the law enforcement authorities will ensure that everything runs smoothly in the state so that citizens can go to work, take their children to kindergartens, go to hospitals. I am quite sure that there will be no problem either on our streets or in the country as a whole" Prime Minister Duško Marković concluded.

PUBLIC RELATIONS SERVICE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF MONTENEGRO


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