Negotiations broke down, Budva still without power

Negotiations on the conclusion of a post-coalition agreement between the coalition "Marko Bato Carević - For the Future of Budva" (DF) and the electoral list "Dragan Krapović - Budva is our nation" (Democrats) failed, after the two sides did not find a common language during ten days of intense talks.

For three and a half months, no government was formed in Budva, except that the two parties agreed, and the parliament voted, that the leaders of the Municipality and the Assembly should be Tsarević and Krsto Radović (Democrats).

Although it seemed that an agreement was in sight, on the eve of the weekend there was a complete disagreement, and key people in the negotiating teams refused to participate in further negotiations, "Vijesti" confirmed.

The fact that the same situation from 2016 was practically repeated, when the two parties could not come to an agreement for three full months after the local elections, led to the gathering of some political parties within Tsarević's coalition, which in the future will act independently in the negotiations.

It was confirmed by "Vijesti" that an agreement on the joint action of the three parties - the Socialist People's Party, the Movement for Change and the Rights of Montenegro - will be concluded on Monday, which have five of the total of 14 councilors in the coalition led by Tsarević.

Their intention, as they told "Vijesti", is that they initiate the negotiations and bring them to an end, because the two sides cannot find a common language for the umpteenth time.

Although during the summer protests led by Tsarević and Radović (Democrats), the two sides were in agreement in the eyes of the citizens, the "old intolerance" has obviously not been overcome.

The new political group, which allegedly has the support of its political headquarters in Podgorica, continues to support and remains in the "For the Future of Budva" coalition, and their actions will allegedly be exclusively aimed at forming a municipal administration as soon as possible, so that the administration will be as efficient as possible in crisis time, as expected in Budva.

The collapse of the negotiations allegedly occurred because the NSD insisted on taking over the Secretariat for Property Protection, which was managed by Democrats for the previous four years, or appointing an assistant who will have the right to subsign.

In NSD's opinion, the secretariat obstructed the work of Tsarević, which the other side rejects and points out that it managed to lead and win the most difficult court processes.

The Democrats were looking for the position of vice president of the Municipality, two of the eight secretariats - for the economy and property protection, as well as one municipal service - a unified service for the collection of communal and public revenues.

When it comes to companies, they were looking for "Mediterranean advertising" (until now under the authority of the URA), "Wastewater", and they wanted to keep the profitable Tourist Organization of Budva (the position of director and chairman of the executive board), Sports and Recreational Center - swimming pool. Dragan Trifunović", Academy of Knowledge and "Grad Theater".

Tsarević's coalition would also have one post of vice-president of the municipality, as well as five secretariats - for urban planning (the Democrats managed until now), finance (until now it was in the hands of the SDP), for local self-government (until now it was the URA), social activities (so far DF), and they would keep the secretariats for investments and communal housing affairs.

They would have the positions of city manager and chief administrator, as well as the Protection and Rescue Service, Municipal Police and Inspection, Information Technology Center, Public Procurement Service, and Anti-Corruption Office.

The Tsarevićs would also control the three most profitable companies - "Vodovod", "Kumunalno predzuje" and "Parking servis".

They would also own the "Mediterranean Sports Center", as well as two public institutions - "Museums and Galleries" and "Library", as well as RTV Budva.

The agreement was that in all companies where the directors are Democrats, the deputies should be from DF, and vice versa.

However, no agreement was reached, even though the supposedly new grouping - SNP, PzP and Prava Crna Gora - agreed with this division of power.

The disagreement also occurred because the NSD believed that the boards of directors and management boards should mirror the relationship in the parliament, which was not supported by the Democrats.

The number of vice-presidential positions was also controversial, and the proposal that the vice-president has a sub-signature, that is, that he can make decisions, was also controversial for the Democrats.

Tsarević's coalition has 14, the Democrats 6, the coalition gathered around DPS 11, and the SDP and the civil movement URA have one councilor each.

More than 500 workers have been without pay for the third month

The fact that the two parties cannot come to an agreement was felt firsthand by the workers of the "Communal Company" and "Vodovoda", who have not received their salaries for the third month.

After the Central Registry of Business Entities did not want to accept the decision of the Budva Municipal Assembly to cancel all decisions made by the administration of Nikola Divanović, the appointed acting directors from the ranks of the Tsarević coalition - Predrag Ivanović in "Communal Enterprise" and Jasna Dokić in "Vodovod" - have no right signatures, so even though the companies have money in their account - they cannot pay their wages.

The agony has been going on for two and a half months, and if the agreement on power sharing is not reached - more than 500 employees will not receive their salary until the New Year.