Fearing goverment failure, Krivokapic takes over ministerial powers

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Zdravko Krivokapic took over the Ministry of Justice, Human Rights and Minorities on January 24, removed Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic from the head of the National Anti-Corruption Council and removed the head of the state delegation for negotiations with the European Union, Foreign minister, Gjorgje Radulovic.

Asked what he wants to achieve with the dismissal and removal of ministers, Krivokapic said it was “unacceptable for the government to fall from within”.

While attending a media discussion panel in Podgorica on January 25th, he said a “coup d’etat” was taking place in Montenegro, but gave no further details on the subject.

Krivokapic later told reporters that Foreign Minister Radulovic had worked against the current government for a long time.

“I have not raised the issue of dismissal of any minister, although it is now very clear who worked for whom,” said Krivokapic, adding that he expects such ministers to resign.

On the other hand, Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic assessed the removal of ministerial powers and possible dismissals as a reflection of powerlessness.

“Everything will end with the Government on February 4. If they think the changes contribute to the situation, there is no problem for me. But if someone were to touch the constitutional order, especially the security order, provoke unrest in Montenegro or explode nationalism, there would be an adequate response in the same second,” Abazovic said.

Abazovic’s party, the Civic Movement URA, together with other parties, has sent a motion of no confidence in the Krivokapic’s Government to the parliamentary procedure. This motion will be voted on in the Assembly on February 4.

In response to the motion, Krivokapic asked the Assembly to hold a session on February 3 to dismiss Abazovic from the post of Deputy Prime Minister, but also to shorten the mandate of the Assembly, to pave the way for the announcement of early parliamentary elections.

Abazovic has proposed the formation of a minority government. Meanwhile, the motion of no confidence in the Government was signed by members of the coalition “Black on White”, the URA Movement and the CIVIS Citizens’ League, which are part of the current ruling coalition and the opposition parties Social Democratic Party, Social Democrats, Bosniak Party, Albanian List, The Albanian Coalition and part of the Democratic Party of Socialists of the President of Montenegro, Milo Djukanovic.

The government of Zdravko Krivokapic was elected on December 4, 2020 with the votes of the pro-Serbian party Democratic Front, Democrats and the Civic Movement Bridge as the government of experts, and the only politician in it is the leader of the Bridge Movement, Dritan Abazovic, who holds the post of Deputy Prime Minister.