New elections in Berane, Bajraktari led by Ulcinj from today?

Ulcinj could get a new local government today, while in Berane it is unlikely that this will happen on June 7, so that northern municipality is likely to have elections, Vijesti learned from several sources.

Yesterday, the Government of Montenegro scheduled the continuation of the constitutive sessions of the two local governments in Ulicanje for today, and in Berane for June 7, because, as they explained, the legal deadlines for the formation of assemblies were not met. According to the Law on Local Self-Government, this implies the election of the president of the municipality - for which the deadline expired on May 27 in Ulcinj, and June 18 in Berane.

In Berane, the problem arose because a political agreement on the new government cannot be reached, since the Democrats do not agree to include the Socialist People's Party in it. On the other hand, DPS has no one to form it with, because no party intends to join forces with them.

When it comes to Ulcinj, a political agreement was reached, but those who managed the municipality until now used legal loopholes, preventing the constitution of local self-government.

Holder of the list "For a new beginning" Omer Bajraktari (GP URA) told Vijesti yesterday that holding the session is indisputable because it was scheduled and that he and his colleagues from Force have a political majority for making decisions.

"I expect the election of the President of the Assembly at that session. It will be Ardian Mavrić (Forca), as agreed," said Bajraktari.

Based on the agreement of the coalition "For a new start" and Force, he is a candidate for the president of the Municipality, while after two years, Force would take over that position by rotation.

It is not excluded, as Vijesti has learned, that after the session at which Mavrić will be elected, another session will be scheduled to vote on Bajraktari.

There are a total of 33 councilors in Ulcinj, and in the elections the coalition "For a new beginning" won 14 mandates, the DPS and the Bosniak Party six, the coalition of the Democratic Union of Albanians and the Democratic Alliance 6, Force 5 and the Democrats two mandates.

In Berane, where the SNP governs the municipality for two mandates, things are a little more complicated.

Councilors from the "For the Future of Berana" coalition, whose backbone is the New Serbian Democracy (Nova), will attend the Assembly session on June 7, as confirmed by the local board of Nova.

Chairman of that committee Radojica Živković he said that they will come and that he hopes that an agreement could be reached by then.

Novica Obradović from the Democrats said that he believes that "they are serious enough people and that they will not allow the electoral will of the citizens to be manipulated".

In the local elections in Berane, out of a total of 35 council seats, nine were won by the DPS with coalition partners SD and BS, seven by the SNP, six by the coalition "For the Future of Berane", six by Democratic Montenegro, four by the Berane Sad movement, two by Prava Montenegro and one by United Montenegro.

Due to the formation of a minority government, with the support of the DPS, the Democrats do not agree to cooperate with the SNP - which has ministers in the executive branch. They believe that the coalition "For the future of Beran" led by the New and Democratic People's Party has an agreement with the SNP.

The government could be constituted if the "Berane sad" Movement, which is probably the forerunner of the party Milojko Spajić, former finance minister, sided with SNP and DF. That would introduce into the Law probably what would be the majority for decision-making.

First on the "Berana Sad" list Mladen Premović yesterday he did not answer the calls of Vijesta, and earlier he decisively claimed that such a possibility does not exist.

Several interlocutors contacted by Vijesti said that things change from day to day, but that it is very certain that early local elections are expected.

"Rape of democracy and a brutal attempt to break the electoral will"

The Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj (Albanian Alternative) said that the administrative supervision determined that the constituent session of the Berana Municipal Council was not held in accordance with legal regulations. "The session was called, but it was adjourned without electing the president of the assembly. Since the Assembly has not been constituted within the legal deadlines, the Ministry proposes to the Government that, in accordance with Article 39 of the Law on Local Self-Government, it will issue a conclusion by which it will convene a session of the newly elected SO Berana with an agenda that will have only one item - the election of the President of the Assembly for June 7 at 10 a.m. ”, said Dukaj yesterday at the Government session.

During the discussion on information about the situation in the municipality of Ulcinj, Dukaj said that the situation is the same as in Berane and that individuals see themselves above the law.

His party was part of the "For a new beginning" coalition in the Ulcinj elections.

Prime Minister Dritan Abazović (GP URA) said that the Government is taking on what is its obligation, scheduling the session, stating that he hopes that at today's session, the bodies will be constituted in a better atmosphere.

Minister of Human and Minority Rights Fatmir Đeka (Democratic Party) said that in Ulcinj there is a "rape of democracy and a brutal attempt to suppress the electoral will of the citizens", and that the Government should therefore use all legal means to stop illegal activity and bragging.

"This is a drastic violation of legal procedures and a violation of citizens' rights to local self-government. And all this before the beginning of the tourist season, which will be excellent", said Đeka, who was part of the "For a new beginning" coalition in the Ulcinj elections.