Koprivica: Those who govern the state must not be in a conflict of interest with the state

Its essence is clear: the state must neither be a business partner to those who make decisions on its behalf nor a refuge for those willing to turn public office into a means of personal gain through corruption. The proposed constitutional solution is not a restriction of democracy, as some would like to portray it, but rather a protection of democracy from those who seek to abuse citizens’ trust for personal enrichment. Democracy means not only the right to elect the government, but also the obligation to exercise power impartially, lawfully and responsibly, without corruption, conflicts of interest or abuse of official duties, and to ensure that public officials are subject to oversight. This constitutional solution does not deprive citizens of their right to choose; instead, it ensures that those who earn their trust meet the highest standards of integrity, prescribed in advance by the Constitution and the law. This mechanism represents a major step toward recovering the political system, restoring citizens’ trust and establishing the standard that public office should be a basis for accountability, not a privilege of power. To ensure a European future, the Government has expressed its readiness to engage in dialogue on solutions concerning this mechanism, while all political actors have an obligation to contribute to finalizing efforts aimed at Montenegro’s full membership in the EU.