In the night that ended one (hard) epoch - which does not mean that the next one will not be hard, but, I guess in a different way - one detail overshadowed everything. It was a memorable finish.
The scene is already unusual. It is the stage where we are used to watching post-election gatherings of enthusiastic citizens, who wave pictures of leaders (sometimes they kiss them in public, this is especially appreciated) and flags, and the whole scene emits a homely, relaxed atmosphere. Even the so-called serious people (because, really, what does that mean in Montenegro) tried to be seen there, so that their joy would not accidentally slip by. Afterwards, on such and such a celebratory background, promotions, jobs, appointments...
This time, it was immediately clear - none of that.
In the first few TV broadcasts, the DPS election headquarters acted as a rehearsal stage for someone Beckett's pieces. Desolation and misunderstanding... Then someone, I suppose, remembered that it was not a good (even though it was a real) picture, so a "student battalion" was sent in haste...
And what did we see?
Let's forget for a moment the abuse of young people, which is a constant in political life here, not since yesterday. Ever since the pioneers... You must have noticed that many local politicians like to frame themselves to young people, when they announce some big (and equally meaningless) thing in the press. Exclusively as a decoration - usually two ravishing, well-kept hair and two serdars of sullen looks... You should have no illusions - this is exactly how most domestic politicians imagine gender (and generational) equality. This was a step further though. Because they intended for young people - dirty work. But, I guess that's how it goes.
We saw something else.
Covering with the flag and silencing with the national anthem... That could be a succinct description of an entire policy. That was the essence of the DPS understanding of the national interest and its protection. Always a show, a theater where the main things end behind the scenes. While hungry and falsified emotions are thrown at the audience. To which, however, she always readily responds.
After all, the whole scene seems artificial. Crazy montage. Montenegrin patchwork. Or a jumble of forgeries.
He waves the flag which, like the Montenegrin national anthem, was once adopted and became official thanks to the initiative of the SDP. The only greeting we see among the singing young people is that of the Montenegrin liberals. It is claimed that they are defending the threatened European perspective and fundamental Western values, which is also taken from the pro-Montenegro opposition from the nineties, but also from shameful, unrealized and similar, so-called independent intellectuals... So what was authentic, DPS? Except for the boss and his crew... Just bare primitivism, I'm afraid.
The entire scene, if nothing else, testifies to the lavish democratic capacity and dialogical potential of the DPS. That is why this scene is essential and so emblematic. In part, it vividly explains the attitude towards the media in all these decades.
So, the journalist (D. Weasel) persistently tried to ask a question, but, at the very name of her medium, an (un)expected reaction would follow - whistling, noise, song... And several times.
Djukanovic was silent. It didn't occur to him to really silence the audience. No matter how much he pretends to be a Democrat. It was another dangerous "silent instruction". It's always like that: when the boss is silent, the noise (and anger) gets louder.
And, at the end - the ridiculous jubilation on the face of the defeated candidate... Why? He himself doesn't know, I would say.
The young man's discomfort was obvious M. Nikolić, who was the only one who felt the need to apologize to the journalist. That polite gesture of his is the only detail in that picture that stands out from the arrogance and stupidity of the general tone. And as such, the only hope for their political future. A politics based on remorse might be a good start...
Bonus video:
