Centre for Civic Education (CCE) recalls that the Government of Montenegro has continued throughout 2025 the practice of adopting a large number of decisions through electronic and telephone sessions, thereby seriously undermining the transparency of executive governance, the quality of decision-making, and democratic standards.
Government sessions address issues that directly affect the functioning of institutions, the legal order, and the everyday lives of citizens. Instead of open and documented deliberation, decisions are often adopted through non-transparent procedures, without publicly available minutes or audio and video recordings. This deprives the public of the right to know and enables senior officials to avoid full accountability.
According to CCE data, the Government led by Milojko Spajić held a total of 266 sessions between its constitution on 31 October 2023 and 26 December 2025. Of these, as many as 162 sessions, or 60.9%, were held electronically or by telephone. Excluding the constituent session, the Government held 100 regular sessions and only three thematic sessions, further indicating the absence of a systematic and strategic approach to governance.
In 2025 alone, the Government held 127 sessions, of which only 42 were held in the regular format, while 83 were conducted by telephone, along with two thematic sessions. The fact that twice as many decisions are adopted outside regular institutional procedures seriously calls into question respect for the fundamental principles of democratic decision-making and public oversight of the executive. This practice undermines the Government’s legitimacy, as key decisions are made through processes that fail to ensure adequate transparency and accountability. Electronic formats cannot replace open and reasoned debate, particularly when decisions have long-term consequences.
The lack of thematic sessions is especially concerning, as such sessions should serve as a key mechanism for addressing complex and strategic issues, particularly in areas of critical importance for European integration, the rule of law, and economic development.
CCE reiterates that electronic and telephone sessions are acceptable only in exceptional and clearly justified circumstances, when urgent action is required to protect vital state or public interests. Their dominant and routine use indicates a lack of political will to uphold the principles of responsible governance.
Therefore, CCE calls on the Government of Montenegro to abandon the routine practice of telephone sessions and to return to regular and thematic sessions, with publicly available minutes and live broadcasts, in order to ensure respect for democratic principles, the public’s right to know, and full accountability of decision-makers.
Nikola Obradović, Programme Associate