Montenegro lawmakers elect judges to country's top court, ending stalemate that threatened to halt NATO bid

Montenegro's lawmakers connected Monday elected each but 1 of nan judges of nan country's apical court, ending a stalemate that has threatened to halt nan Balkan nation's European Union rank bid.

Montenegro's Constitutional Court has been blocked for months pinch main governmental players failing to work together connected caller members. The tribunal has 7 judges but 4 places person been vacant since September.

EU officials person warned Montenegro that it must let for nan normal functioning of nan Constitutional Court if it wants proceed connected its way to subordinate nan EU. The tribunal is important for nan norm of rule and arsenic nan state holds an important statesmanlike predetermination adjacent month.

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Lawmakers connected Monday approved 3 retired of 4 judges but grounded to work together connected nan 4th candidate. The ballot still intends that nan tribunal is formally unblocked contempt lacking 1 member. A caller ballot to elite nan 4th judge is expected wrong weeks.

Montenegro has elected 3 of 4 judges to nan country's apical court. This ends a stalemate which could person halted nan country's NATO bid.

"Good news from Montenegro today! " tweeted Vladimir Bilcik, nan European Parliament personnel dealing pinch nan region. "I dream a 4th judge tin beryllium elected soon. The civilization of speech and discuss crossed statement lines is nan only measurement guardant for advancement connected nan EU path."

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Montenegro has been locked successful a governmental situation for months aft its authorities fell successful a no-confidence ballot and main governmental players couldn't work together connected whether to telephone an early predetermination aliases effort to shape a caller government.

The statesmanlike ballot connected March 19 is expected to bespeak nan divisions among pro-Western, and pro-Serbia and pro-Russia voters, successful nan Balkan federation of astir 620,000 people. Long-serving pro-Western incumbent Milo Djukanovic is moving for different word successful office.

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Montenegro utilized to beryllium portion of a national pinch Serbia earlier splitting successful 2006. The state joined NATO successful 2017, defying Russian opposition, and is wide considered arsenic nan adjacent successful statement for EU membership.