Minister Dukaj maintains Mojkovac leader must vacate office

Montenegrin Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj has reaffirmed the legal position that Vesko Delić, the head of Mojkovac, must vacate his position following a final conviction for abuse of official position.

Dukaj argued that the Law on Local Self-Government acts as 'lex specialis', meaning it takes precedence over the Criminal Code in determining the termination of a mandate due to a final conviction. This stance follows a July ruling by the High Court in Podgorica, which found Delić guilty of extended abuse of office for appointing heads of communal police and rescue services in 2022 without a public competition and despite knowing they did not meet legal requirements.

Delić’s lawyer, Artan Kurti, has challenged this interpretation, requesting that the Ministry suspend the process. Kurti argues that a suspended sentence should not automatically result in the loss of office unless explicitly stated, suggesting the current interpretation bypasses the Criminal Code. However, Dukaj cited a 2013 Supreme Court stance to support the application of special laws regarding the consequences of final convictions.