Bečić: Citizens want seriousness, responsibility, stability, respect, and constructiveness!

It is undeniable that we are witnessing an exceptionally successful year. Historic achievements on the European path, including receiving IBAR—a milestone no previous governments have come close to reaching—alongside the closure of three negotiation chapters after seven years, a significant increase in salaries and pensions, stable public finances, and groundbreaking results in combating organized crime and corruption, where it is evident that there are no longer untouchable individuals, all speak volumes about our progress.

The recent wave of tension and actions far below the standards expected of high-ranking public officials reflects a destructive reaction born out of political impotence. It has no real connection to the artificially created uproar surrounding the termination of a Constitutional Court judge’s mandate upon reaching retirement age.

Such decisions have been made before, without any noise or controversy—they are a routine part of judicial processes when a judge reaches retirement age, whether appointed by Parliament or the Judicial Council. The fact that some judges, in direct conflict of interest, refuse to formally submit notifications regarding their status cannot exempt them from the application of constitutional and statutory provisions. These provisions have been used to retire numerous judges and prosecutors in Montenegro in previous years.

Judicial and Prosecutorial Councils have repeatedly enforced these provisions, as confirmed by decisions of both the Supreme Court and Administrative Court. For instance, it has been clarified that the absence of formal notification cannot prevent the Judicial Council from exercising its constitutional authority to terminate the mandate of judges who meet the legal retirement criteria.

The relevant authorities have already thoroughly addressed this matter multiple times. Hence, I reiterate that this controversy is artificial and serves as a distraction from an exceptionally successful year for the government and the parliamentary majority. Instead of engaging in a civilized exchange of arguments, we are witnessing behaviour far beneath the level of statesmanship—behaviour that, as I hear, is not even supported by citizens who voted for certain political entities.

The people simply want seriousness, responsibility, stability, respect, and constructiveness.

Citizens want continued reforms and European successes. Montenegro’s opportunity to become the 28th EU member by 2028 surpasses the importance of any individual or partisan interest.

Let us understand that this historic and generational opportunity must and will be seized.

The overwhelming majority of citizens, regardless of their diverse political and ideological beliefs, want a path defined by stability, responsibility, and victories in European integration, economic development, and the fight against crime. Destructive politics have historically only harmed those who practiced them.

Let us focus on what citizens want, what unites them, and what determines the European future of our country and the quality of life for every individual, irrespective of their political, national, religious, or other beliefs.