Gvozdenović: Parliament’s infamous record - 25 laws in 87 minutes; The decision to forgo debate is yet another step in the degradation of Parliament and democratic procedures

The Parliament of Montenegro adopted 25 laws in just 87 minutes yesterday, which together with accompanying materials amount to a total of 4.457 pages. The decision not to conduct a detailed debate on these laws represents yet another step in the degradation of Parliament and democratic procedures, all under the banner of European integration – said Deputy Executive Director of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) Milena Gvozdenović.

According to her, this further deepens the dilemma that has been raised several times in Parliament itself: whether MPs have truly read these laws or merely voted on them.

- At the first session of the extraordinary sitting, 20 laws proposed by the Government were adopted in one hour and 11 minutes, following statements by the Minister of European Affairs and three opposition MPs. The second session lasted 16 minutes - long enough to pass five more laws proposed by MPs. Although we have repeatedly witnessed violations of democratic principles and parliamentary procedures, the erosion of Parliament’s role has reached a new peak at a moment when some MPs, without any difficulty, silently adopt as many as 25 laws in plenary session - Gvozdenović recalled.

At the session, the Minister of European Affairs stated that these were key European laws that are „not merely technical, but systemic“.

Nevertheless, Gvozdenović notes, for some MPs they were apparently not important enough to warrant a serious parliamentary debate, nor to allow citizens to become familiar with their content in this way.

- Among the laws that were not discussed at all in plenary are, among others, the Law on Medicines with 360 articles, the Law on Consumer Protection, which together with accompanying materials spans 435 pages, and the Law on the Capital Market, for which 32 Government amendments totaling 189 pages were submitted just two days before the session began - emphasized the Deputy Executive Director of CDT.

As Gvozdenović explains, this poor practice in the preparation and adoption of laws was established during the adoption of the so-called IBAR laws, after which „rushing through“ legislative solutions became the modus operandi of the current parliamentary convocation.

- Negative experiences with parts of the amendments to the Law on the Prevention of Corruption, the Law on the Election of Councillors and Members of Parliament, the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns, as well as other regulations to which, even under the recommendations of the European Commission, we must return, were not a sufficient warning to the Government and the Parliament of Montenegro. Laws are still not being prepared on time, nor through a transparent and inclusive process, as is appropriate for democratic societies - Gvozdenović stressed.

Gvozdenović believes that although some MPs may feel they have „passed“ an administrative speed test in adopting laws in this manner, their task and obligation is to enable citizens, through debate, to gain insight into legal solutions that directly affect their everyday lives.

For citizens, she emphasizes, there are no unimportant laws, and European integration must not serve as an excuse for adopting legislation in an average of four minutes, without discussion, public participation, or respect for expert opinions - because such practices, sooner or later, always come back to harm society.

- Our Parliament is forgetting that transparent and inclusive legislative procedures are among the fundamental principles of European democracy. Had Parliament truly wanted to act in a European manner, the laws would first have been read, then thoroughly considered through debate, and their effects clearly explained to citizens - because that is the essence of responsible and democratic governance - Gvozdenović concluded.