Manojlovic: Serbian institutions violated the Constitution

Go-Change movement campaign director Savo Manojlovic accused Serbian institutions of violating the Constitution by failing to address a citizens’ initiative against lithium mining, signed by over 38,000 people.

Despite the fact that it was submitted two years ago, the initiative has not yet been placed on the Parliament’s agenda, he said.

Manojlovic told reporters outside the Serbian Parliament on Monday that the government is trying to turn the lithium issue into “political bickering.”

“We are here as the official proponents of the citizens’ initiative to highlight a breakdown in constitutional order and the principle of sovereignty. Any private agreements with Rio Tinto or German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will not be legitimate,” said Manojlovic, adding that a submission was made to the Constitutional Court two years ago, asking for intervention, but that there has been no response.

“The Constitutional Court clearly does not care what Serbian citizens think. Rio Tinto cannot take priority over the citizens,” he stressed.

The initiative against lithium and boron mining, signed by 38,191 citizens, was submitted to the Serbian Parliament on May 18, 2022.