The Speaker of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia Ivica Dacic convened the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, 12th Legislature, for Wednesday, 21 July 2021, starting at 10 am.
The 233 MPs’ request to hold the session ascertained the following agenda:
- Bill amending and modifying the Law on Judges, submitted by the Government;
- Bill amending the Law on the High Judiciary Council, submitted by the Government;
- Bill on the 2023 Agriculture Census, submitted by the Government;
- Bill on Determining Financial Support to Business Entities for Maintaining Liquidity and Working Capital in Difficult Business Conditions Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Virus, submitted by the Government;
- Bill on the Confirmation of the Financial Contract COVID-19 Serbian Government Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Mid-Caps between the European Investment Bank and the Republic of Serbia, submitted by the Government;
- Bill on the Confirmation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy on Employment of Family Members of Diplomatic, Consular and Administrative-Technical Staff, submitted by the Government;
- Proposal of the Decision on the election of Republic Public Prosecutor, submitted by the Government;
- Proposal of the Decision on the election of court presidents, submitted by the High Judicial Council and
- List of Candidates for member of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, submitted by the Culture and Information Committee.
The National Assembly accepted the proposal of MP Dr Aleksandar Martinovic to complete a joint debate in principle and single debate on items 1, 2, 7 and 8, as well as a joint debate in principle and single debate on items 3 to 6 on the agenda.
The National Assembly then commenced the joint debate in principle and single debate on the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Judges, Bill amending the Law on the High Judiciary Council, Proposal of the Decision on the election of Republic Public Prosecutor and the Proposal of the Decision on the election of court presidents.
The proposed acts were presented by the authorised representatives of the submitters Minister of Justice Maja Pavlovic and representative of the High Judicial Council Zak Pavlovic.
By the end of the day the National Assembly completed the joint debate in principle and single debate on items 1, 2, 7 and 8 on the agenda.
On the second day of the proceedings, 22 July 2021, before adopting the agenda, the heads i.e. authorised representatives of the parliamentary groups, MPs Milija Miletic, Sanja Jefic Brankovic, Rozalia Okresz, Stefan Krkobabic, Djordje Milicevic and Prof. Dr Marko Atlagic, requested information and explanations in line with article 287 of the National Assembly Rules of Procedure.
The National Assembly then commenced the joint debate in principle and single debate on items 3 to 6 on the agenda.
On behalf of the submitter, the bills were presented by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management Branislav Nedimovic.
In the course of the day the National Assembly completed the joint debate in principle and single debate on items 3 to 6 on the agenda.
By the end of the workday the MPs also considered the List of Candidates for member of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media, submitted by the Culture and Information Committee.
As the National Assembly had completed the debate on all the items on the agenda, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Vladimir Orlic set Thursday, 22 July 2021, as Voting Day on all the items on the agenda of the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, 12th Legislature, starting at 6.30 pm.
Voting Day
On Voting Day, 22 July 2021, the National Assembly passed the Bill amending and modifying the Law on Judges, Bill amending the Law on the High Judiciary Council, Bill on the 2023 Agriculture Census, Bill on Determining Financial Support to Business Entities for Maintaining Liquidity and Working Capital in Difficult Business Conditions Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 Virus, Bill on the Confirmation of the Financial Contract COVID-19 Serbian Government Support for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises and Mid-Caps between the European Investment Bank and the Republic of Serbia, and the Bill on the Confirmation of the Memorandum of Understanding between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Italy on Employment of Family Members of Diplomatic, Consular and Administrative-Technical Staff.
The National Assembly also adopted the Proposal of the Decision on the election of Republic Public Prosecutor by 168 votes electing Zagorka Dolovac Republic Public Prosecutor whom the National Assembly Deputy Speaker wished success on the behalf of the MPs and himself.
At the proposal of MP Jelena Zaric Kovacevic to contest the proposals for the election of court presidents, the National Assembly did not elect Zlatoje Ankic President of the Basic Court in Zrenjanin, Gordana Sokic President of the Basic Court in Prokuplje, Ljiljana Sindjic President of the Basic Court in Pancevo, and Biljana Djuricic President of the Basic Court in Ruma.
The MPs adopted the Proposal of the Decision on the election of court presidents, submitted by the High Judicial Council, without the contested candidates.
By majority vote, the National Assembly elected Bozidar Zecevic member of the Council of the Regulatory Authority for Electronic Media.
As the National Assembly had completed the debate on all the items on the agenda and ruled on them, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Dr Vladimir Orlic concluded the Ninth Extraordinary Session of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, 12th Legislature.
