Montenegro’s ruling PES backs Mandić despite Mladić controversy

Montenegro’s Europe Now Movement (PES), led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, will not support the dismissal of Montenegrin Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić after he praised the legacy of convicted war criminal Ratko Mladić and expressed condolences to his family.

“We will not support Mandić’s dismissal. The Europe Now Movement was founded with the aim of ensuring economic progress and a European future for our citizens. We believe it is crystal clear that we will not vote to allow an ugly past to ruin our bright future,” PES said in a statement.

The initiative to dismiss Andrija Mandić, who also heads the New Serb Democracy party, was announced by Montenegro’s opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). It was backed by the Croatian Civic Initiative, Dritan Abazović’s URA civic movement, and the Bosniak Party, led by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović, CE Report quotes FENA.

Montenegrin President Jakov Milatović also condemned the relativization of Ratko Mladić’s war crimes. Mladić was finally convicted of genocide in Srebrenica and other serious war crimes committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Milatović added that this was not a matter of political opinion, but a fact established by a final ruling of an international court.

Ratko Mladić, the former commander of the Bosnian Serb army who was finally convicted in The Hague of genocide in Srebrenica and other serious war crimes committed during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, died last week in a detention facility.

On Wednesday, graffiti glorifying Mladić appeared on the courtyard wall of the family home of Bosniak Party MP Kenana Strujić-Harbić in Pljevlja, following threats made against the party’s president, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ervin Ibrahimović.

“We call on the police and the prosecutor’s office to act in accordance with their constitutional and legal obligations in all other cases involving the glorification of war criminals convicted of genocide and the denial of war crimes and genocide, as these are criminal offenses subject to prosecution ex officio,” the Bosniak Party said in a statement.

On Friday, the European Commission, commenting on reports that several Montenegrin politicians and officials from ruling parties had glorified Ratko Mladić, warned that any glorification of war criminals is contrary to European values and has no place either in the European Union or in countries aspiring to membership.

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