The elections in Nikšić are very important because they are the first after the parliamentary ones, and they will show how much the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has weakened, believes Tatjana Đurišić Bečanović, who heads the list of the Citizens' Movement URA and non-party personalities, called "Može Nikšić".
In addition to the fact that, according to her, the local elections will show how many voters the coalition that is in power in the city has lost, Nikšić, she believes, is also important on a symbolic level, because it is the "hometown of the last Balkan leader".
"When he loses power in Nikšić, he will finally face his political downfall. That's why the region closely follows the local elections, which are not the same," believes Tatjana Đurišić Bečanović.
URA decided to perform independently. You are also supported by non-partisan personalities. Do you expect to repeat the result from the parliamentary elections?
In Nikšić, the URA is acting independently, because we expect a much better result than in the parliamentary elections, when we were accused of betraying our opposition commitment and becoming another DPS satellite. Now our political orientation is clear and well known to the citizens - we remain persistent in our intention to disempower DPS in Nikšić as well, despite accusations that we are traitors to Montenegro.
What does the URA offer to the citizens of Nikšić, so you expect a better result than in the parliamentary elections?
We are convinced that the citizens of Nikšić are tired of empty identity stories, of flag-waving and violence that accompanies all the performances of patriots, so we offer them a political program based on solving real existential problems.
Our primary goals are: reducing unemployment and poverty, remediating the consequences of the epidemic, solving the housing issue and a healthy living environment, which would stop the outflow of the population and the death of the city. In our program, political strategies that will enable the realization of the set goals are elaborated in detail.
In your performances, you always emphasize the civic identity of both Montenegro and Nikšić. Do you think Nikšić and Montenegro are ripe for such a concept?
URA is the most consistent promoter of civil Montenegro, in which all religions and nations are equal, and in which all citizens exercise their legally guaranteed rights. Due to its multi-ethnic and multi-confessional composition, this country was created for the civic concept, because all other political models are too risky. I am convinced that my hometown is ripe for such a conception and that the country of Montenegro is ready to free itself from the totalitarian regime that stifled its progress.
The fate of DPS must not be equated with the fate of the state. The elections in Nikšić are crucial for the survival of Đukanović's party, but they cannot in any way threaten Montenegrin statehood. After the defeat in Nikšić, DPS will face serious problems, and the state of Montenegro will continue moving towards the European Union, finally ready to achieve results in the fight against corruption and organized crime.
In the upcoming elections, Nikšić will prove that he is a city, and not a backward palanquin where patriotism is fiddled with, while plans are being made to devastate the municipal coffers. We should be suspicious of those who put their nationality before the interests of the city and citizens, because if we trust them, they will only take care of "their own".
From the so-called sovereignist parties accuse your movement of not being citizen-oriented, of betraying voters and Montenegro and of trying to "hijack" voters who are in favor of Montenegro?
DPS and their satellites call themselves sovereignist parties, trying to use that phrase to cover up the damage they have caused to this country. The so-called "sovereignist parties" sovereignly plundered Montenegro and should not brag about it before the local elections in Nikšić, but their problem has always been a stunted ideological and axiological paradigm.
If someone robs his country, if he embezzles citizens who trusted him and voted in the elections, that is certainly not called sovereignty. It is a betrayal of national and state interests, and this country has no bigger enemies than thieves and corruption-mongers. And of course, instead of them justifying themselves because of the state they have brought us to, because of the destroyed economy, the sold-out coast, existential and moral misery, the sovereignist parties force us, the citizens of Montenegro, to justify to them that we are neither traitors nor anti-state elements. That mechanism of transfer of guilt is an indicator of serious pathological processes in this society.
When someone starts to sink politically, he doesn't have much choice when it comes to coalition partners either.
Is Montenegro really being defended in these elections in Nikšić, as some are trying to present?
Nationalist ramblings about Nikšić as the last defense of Montenegro are ridiculous. As we all know very well, the last Balkan leader and his millions are being defended in Nikšić, and nothing else. At the last DPS congress, the leader showed them that he was not at all interested in the fate of the party when he was re-elected - then their defeat in Nikšić was sealed.
After the election, with whom are you ready to enter a coalition?
After the elections, the URA will form a coalition with civic-oriented parties, which also want the dismantling of Djukanović's monstrous regime.
The "European Team" campaign has descended to fair levels
"Political primitivism, with which the DPS "enriched" its pre-election bid, is also visible in the campaign of the European team for Nikšić, which has descended to fair levels. Let them reconsider their civic orientation, while spreading fear, hatred and curses on Nikšić, trying to provoke conflicts in a futile attempt to homogenize their electorate. Their subjugation completely negates the civil concept, so they collapse themselves from within. We do not steal anything from anyone, especially not voters, because we do not treat them as goods, but as our interlocutors and partners in the realization of our political program. Kidnapping is the manner of the DPS and their "sovereignist" satellites, who have been turned into subjects of the last Balkan leader. We only offer a way out of this nationalist madness, that's why the support of GP URA is growing, and the so-called sovereignist bloc is falling apart. People of different nations and religions approach us, because we do not establish a national identity for our voters, that's why attacks on us come from all sides", says Bečanović.
Nationalist platitudes will neither feed nor heal anyone
Who is good at creating tension?
The creation of tensions suits only those who do not have a serious political program, but hope that the electorate will be grouped according to the principle - every bird to its own flock. And the flock is, of course, nationally profiled and clearly defined, and above it flies the "real" flag, under which the birds of the "real" nation, church and origin fly.
Both Montenegrin and Serbian right-wingers are counting on the homogenization of their electorate, which can only happen in a heated atmosphere of inter-ethnic hatred, where people will not vote according to political and rational criteria, but only according to national ones. Such a perverse "choosing" will not happen in Nikšić, because the real problems that the citizens face are very serious, and nationalist platitudes and waving flags will neither feed anyone nor cure them from covid.
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