We join the assessment of Media Centre, the Centre for Civic Education, the Centre for Investigative Journalism of Montenegro and the Media Institute of Montenegro that the parliamentary majority two days ago knowingly violated the Law on RTCG in the election of Council members, by voting on candidates individually instead of on the proposed list as a whole, as explicitly required by Article 29, paragraph 2 of the Law. This conduct opened the door to political influence over the selection of people who, by the very nature of their role, should be independent of the executive and legislative authorities.

We recall that this is not the first time an attempt has been made to place the RTCG Council under political control. The previous parliamentary majority, in a similar way, violated the legally prescribed procedure and criteria in an attempt to secure itself a compliant majority on the Council. Only after lengthy court proceedings, which lasted for years, was it established that those decisions had been unlawful – but only once the damage to the institution’s independence had already been done, and public trust in RTCG further eroded. The costly and slow judicial correction of political abuse must not become the regular way this institution functions.

The fact that the new parliamentary majority, which until yesterday criticised this very practice while in opposition, is now repeating the same pattern shows that the problem does not lie with individual parties, but in a systemic readiness to treat independent institutions such as RTCG as political spoils, rather than as a public good.

This is also a test for the European Union. The EU Delegation to Montenegro clearly called on the Parliament to respect the law in the election of Council members – a call that was ignored. We expect the EU’s reaction this time not to be limited to expressions of concern, but to be followed by an unambiguous condemnation of this breach of the law, as well as by concrete monitoring of this issue within Montenegro’s progress reports on media freedom and the rule of law. Without clear consequences for systemic breaches of the law, no future government will have any reason to change its behaviour.

We also call on the State Prosecution Service to urgently rule on the criminal complaints already filed concerning the documentation of candidates for members of the RTCG Council.

1. Tea Gorjanc Prelević, Human Rights Action (HRA)
2. Radomir Kračković, Trade Union of Media of Montenegro
3. Maja Raičević, Women’s Rights Centre
4. Aida Perović, NGO Prima
5. Darko Ivanović, NGO 35mm
6. Nevenka Vuksanović, Centre for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM)
7. Slavica Striković, NGO Women’s Action
8. Nataša Nelević, NOVA – Centre for Feminist Culture
9. Muamera Muslić, NGO Đakomo Adriatic
10. Zorana Marković, Centre for Development of Non-Governmental Organisations (CRNVO)
11. Nataša Međedović, SOS Hotline for Women and Children Victims of Violence Nikšić
12. Mira Saveljić, Women’s Safe House