President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović has convened the Seventh Sitting of the First Ordinary (Spring) Session of the Parliament of Montenegro for Sunday 20 May 2018, starting at 12h, in the Government House in Cetinje.
At the Sitting, pursuant to Article 97 paragraph 3 of the Constitution of Montenegro, president-elect of Montenegro Mr Milo Đukanović will take an oath and assume the office of the President of Montenegro, before the members of the Parliament of Montenegro.
Aside from MPs of the 26th Parliament of Montenegro, the following are also invited to the Sitting: members of the Government of Montenegro, former presidents of Montenegro, speakers of the Parliament and PMs, the highest state officials, heads of state institutions, a representative of the descendants of the Petrović-Njegoš Dynasty, the mayor of the Old Royal Capital of Cetinje, religious dignitaries, university rectors, members of the diplomatic corps accredited in Montenegro, non-resident ambassadors and military envoys accredited in Montenegro, representatives of international organisations, municipal presidents and others.
Newly-elected president shall take oat before MPs on the day of expiration of his predecessor's term, while the inauguration ceremony of the President of Montenegro will take place in the “Ivan Crnojević“ ceremonious hall of the monumental building Government House.
The Montenegrin Army Orchestra will play during the arrival of the guests at the ceremony, and the fanfare will play at noon, after which the president-elect of Montenegro Mr Milo Đukanović and President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović will enter the Ivan Crnojević Hall, where the Sitting of the Parliament of Montenegro will take place.
After President of the Parliament of Montenegro Mr Ivan Brajović opens the Sitting and choir of the Music Academy, conducted by Ms Aleksandra Knežević, sings the hymn of Montenegro "Oh, Bright Dawn of May", the president-elect of Montenegro Mr Milo Đukanović will take an oath and hold his inaugural speech, thus assuming the office of the President of Montenegro.
Wording of the oath shall read as follows: “I do swear with my honour, on the Constitution of Montenegro, that I will faithfully and responsibly execute the Office of President of Montenegro for the well-being of all citizens of our homeland. As President of the State, I will be devoted to safeguarding independence and sovereignty of Montenegro, and its affirmation as a civil, democratic, ecological and state of social justice, based on the rule of law”. (Decision on wording of the oat taken by the President of Montenegro before MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, Official Gazette of Montenegro, No 32/08).
After the President of the Parliament concludes the Sitting, the ceremonial military salute will follow on the plateau of the Government House. First, a commander of the Honourable Guard of the Army of Montenegro will give salute to the President of Montenegro Mr Milo Đukanović, who will then salute the flag of Montenegro and tour the Honourable Guard, with the greetings "Army of Montenegro, hello!” In that moment, the honourable fire from the six arms of the Army of Montenegro will be heard, traditionally used on the eve of Independence Day.
According to the protocol, at 12:30 in the atrium of the Government House, a cocktail organised by the President of Montenegro and his wife will begin.
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The Constitution of Montenegro, adopted on 22 October 2017, defines Montenegro as a civil, democratic, ecological and the state of social justice, based on the rule of law.
The President of Montenegro shall be elected for the period of five years, in direct election. The President represents Montenegro in the country and abroad, proclaims laws by ordinance, calls for the parliamentary elections, proposes to the Parliament candidate for the Prime Minister, President and judges of the Constitutional Court, proposes to the Parliament calling for referendum, grants amnesty for criminal acts, awards medals and honours of Montenegro and executes other duties prescribed by the Constitution. The President is also a member of the Supreme Defence Council.
Since the renewal of the independence on 21 May 2006, the office of the President of Montenegro was executed by Mr Filip Vujanović, who was elected in presidential elections of 2008 and 2013.
The Government House, where the ceremony of taking the oat will be held, is also known as the building of the Montenegrin Parliament, constructed in 1910 by Italian architect Corradini. Purposely designed for the National Assembly and other state bodies, at that time it was the biggest construction in Montenegro. It consist of upper ground floor and first floor. The "Ivan Crnojević" ceremonious hall stands out in the interior, being richly adorned with various decorative elements and dynastic coats of arms, so for this occasion, a special care was taken that scenography is discretely set in this unique ambiance. The balcony above the porch will be decorated with 12 Montenegrin flags, as a sign of the forthcoming holiday - Independence Day of Montenegro and 12 years since the renewal of independence.
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The Sitting of the Parliament of Montenegro and the accompanying program will be broadcasted directly by the Radio - Television of Montenegro. For the ceremonious inauguration 49 journalists have been accredited, as well as camera crews and photographers from 20 media outlets.
The camera crews/photo-reporters will be following the Sitting in the positions behind the invitees, on the left and right from the main entrance. For shooting video coverage (during the hymn) they can use marked space next to sides of the stage.
The camera crews and photo-reporters will have an opportunity to film the Ceremonious military salute on the plateau in front of the Government House.
At the beginning of the cocktail, in the atrium of the Government House, they can film congratulations of the invitees to the President of Montenegro.
To remind, it is planned for the accredited media representatives to arrive at the Government House no later than 11h 30min. In case they are not accredited for this event (regardless of whether they have the annual credentials or not), they should do that in the usual manner, by sending a request via e-mail This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
If you need any additional media information, please contact Ms Sanja Perić 067 246 994 and Ms Snježana Vojvodić 067 310 792, from the Department for Public Relations and Protocol.
