Abazović: Significant progress in the opinion of the Venice Commission is gratifying

Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazović held a press conference today on the occasion of the opinion of the Venice Commission on the Draft Law on Amendments to the Law on the State Prosecutor's Office.

DPM Abazović said that the saga on the prosecution ended with the opinion of the Venice Commission and that Venice Commission welcomed the constructive dialogue and consultations that were held with the civil sector and interested parties. Abazović also said that the opinion was not negative and that what was published in the media was not the final version, but that there was a point in the final version that spoke about accepting the letter and explanation of Deputy Prime Minister Abazović on the additional opinion of the Venice Commission, which became an integral part of the official opinion.

"I had consultations with the majority, it is not a problem for four members of the Prosecutorial Council to be from the ranks of reputable lawyers, and for the fifth to be from an NGO that will be specially elected," Abazović said.

The Deputy Prime Minister said that it was true that the Venice Commission had objections to the termination of the mandate of the members of the Prosecutorial Council, but that they had nothing against the dismissal of those who did not meet the criteria. The Deputy Prime Minister stated that the members of the Prosecutorial Council will receive financial compensation for shortening the mandate, which will happen in a few months. Abazović also stated that the suggestion to determine exactly which reports the prosecution can submit to the Parliament and its bodies is acceptable.

Abazović said that if the Draft Law is adopted, a dialogue on overcoming the current situation in the Supreme State Prosecutor's Office should start the day after, and called on the opposition to submit a suggestion that would improve the text.

DPM Abazović said that he could not understand that the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) was against the changes in the Prosecutor's Office and that last night it was clear that even such a Prosecutor's Office could not help them, and that this was the last line of their defence.