No sufficient support to debate the tricolor as a national flag; Knežević: The way some run the country - better if the midwife had dropped them at birth
The proposal by Democratic People’s Party leader Milan Knežević to include a debate on the tricolor as a national flag on the Parliament’s agenda did not receive the necessary support.
A total of 21 MPs voted in favor, 23 were against, and 13 abstained.
Speaking at the session, Knežević said that this flag was the reason why the Democratic People’s Party left the government of Milojko Spajić.
- It does not occur to me to convince them that this is the flag of their ancestors if they do not want to vote for it and perceive it in the way that secured its place in Montenegrin history. Who is bothered by this flag today? This is the royal flag of the Kingdom of Montenegro and of King Nikola, under which we entered Shkodër, fought at Mojkovac, received Obilić medals, and defended this state from occupiers and those who wanted to change our national identity code. It bothers those who would like us to forget the Vojislavljević, Nemanjić, Balšić, Crnojević, and Petrović dynasties, and those who think history begins with them and their birth at the Clinical Center in Podgorica or in some hospital in Montenegro... And the way some run the country, it would have been better if the midwife had dropped them at birth than that they survived - they would have had a greater effect than they do now – Knežević said.
He added that he did not bring this flag from Mojanovići.
- This is the flag that Valtazar Bogišić from Dubrovnik codified in the 1905 Constitution, and today we received a statement from the Europe Now Movement saying that this flag is not a topic for discussion and that they were not consulted, which is blatantly untrue. They were consulted in the Government, but did not want to talk with us... Then, through the Secretary-General of the Government, they said this should go to Parliament... And here it is in Parliament, and even now it is not a topic for discussion because we have a European agenda, and until that is completed, there will be no discussion of this 1905 flag – he said.
Europe Now Movement MP Branka Marković said that she is among those in that party who are Serbian-oriented, attends the Serbian Orthodox Church, and speaks the Serbian language.
- Our Prime Minister identifies as Serbian. He is more of a Serb than the colleague who is calling him all sorts of names today (Knežević)... No president or prime minister from any other country represents or leads Serbian identity for me. I carry my Serbian identity and my faith within me and will always nurture it, nor do I think that anyone from Montenegro should have a leader from another country. No one can love my Montenegro more than I do. No one can accuse us of not loving the Serbian language and the flag, only that it is being postponed at the moment. It is being delayed so as not to allow various disputes, open space for divisions, and waste time... The day Montenegro enters the European Union (EU), then discussions will be held on dual citizenship, the flag, the language, as the Prime Minister has said – Marković stated.