The PEN Center in Montenegro has strongly condemned recent events in the Montenegrin Parliament, particularly criticizing Speaker Andrija Mandić. The organization claims that Mandić is acting under the direct influence of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and Moscow, which they believe is threatening Montenegro’s sovereignty.
The PEN Center referred to the actions of the Constitutional Committee of the Montenegrin Parliament as an “usurpation of the Constitutional Court’s competencies” that is pushing the country into a de facto state of emergency. This, they argue, is the culmination of a coordinated effort to dismantle Montenegro’s sovereignty and break down the social fabric of the country.
“The unconstitutional and traitorous behavior of Mandić aims to halt Montenegro’s EU accession process, with the goal of subordinating the country to Aleksandar Vučić’s imperialist plans,” the PEN Center stated in a press release.
The organization emphasized the gravity of Montenegro’s current political moment and called for a decisive response from all pro-European forces within the country. They urged political parties, civil society representatives, the academic community, and concerned citizens to unite in a collective resistance against the current government, which they accuse of undermining the state order under Vučić’s dictation.
“It is not too late to halt the accelerating fascism in society, but it requires an urgent and decisive reaction from all civil forces, both in the streets and in institutions, using all available means,” the PEN Center concluded.
The statement paints a grim picture of the political situation in Montenegro, warning that the country risks becoming a territory under the full control of autocrats from Belgrade and Moscow if the current trajectory is not stopped.
