The absence of Prime Minister’s Questions can only be seen as a deliberate attempt to avoid parliamentary oversight and a disregard for one of the country’s key democratic institutions. That’s how Nevenka Vuksanović, director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM), described the situation in a statement to Antena M, referring to the fact that Prime Minister’s Questions have not been held for two consecutive months.
According to parliamentary rules, the Prime Minister, Milojko Spajić, is required to appear before Parliament once a month to answer MPs' questions.
"The Prime Minister sees his presence in Parliament as necessary only when defending politically or legally questionable agreements. But when it comes to more critical issues and institutional accountability, it appears he simply lacks the time. Holding government sessions over the phone has become the norm, and that’s a dangerous trend. It undermines the rule of law and erodes systemic transparency", Vuksanović said.
If EU integration is truly considered a strategic goal, she emphasized, then European values cannot be applied selectively.
"It can’t be just when it’s politically convenient. Respect for Parliament, accountability to the public, a functioning system, oversight of the executive, these aren’t just bureaucratic formalities; they are the foundation of democratic culture and process", the CEDEM director said.
Ahead of the next parliamentary session on May 29, which will include discussions on the agreement with the United Arab Emirates and an initiative to dismiss Speaker of Parliament Andrija Mandić, Vuksanović said a clear break from political games is needed, along with a renewed focus on institutional credibility.
"But I don’t expect that to happen. Even though that’s the bare minimum, the impression remains that this government is more focused on holding on to power than on genuine reform, and yet real reform is exactly what the EU expects from us", she concluded.
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