DPS is no longer helped by feuding opponents

If the head of state Milo Djukanovic he is again running for that position, of course the chance of winning the elections will be higher if he has more competitors. However, playing the card of the disunity of opponents, which kept Đukanović in power for years, is no longer enough, as the voters of his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) are turning to other parties.

This was assessed for "Vijesti" by a professor at the University of Donja Gorica (UDG). Nikoleta Djukanovic, pointing out that DPS voters do so mainly because of the personnel of that party and the way it ruled.

Therefore, she states that she is not sure that it is wise for anyone in the DPS to rely on the card of disunity of rivals.

She says that it will not be easy for the DPS to choose a candidate who, in the conditions of a constant decline in trust among their former voters and unrealized party reforms, will manage to achieve a good result in the presidential elections scheduled for March 19.

Although, he notes, it is clear that only Đukanović had the best chances for a good outcome in previous election cycles, the turning of DPS voters to others speaks of their saturation with the party's politics.

"Especially crucial are the affairs that were connected with their members. That's why I think that the candidacy of any other current or former member of this party, including Mrs. Milica Pejanović Đurišić", said the interlocutor.

DPS announced yesterday that they have started internal party consultations about the candidate. Current leader Đukanović is mentioned as the most serious potential. On the other hand, Pejanović Đurišić, who also headed the DPS from 1997 to 1998, could allegedly be the sole representative of the opposition.

The DPS announced last week that they will also consult with all subjects of the "European bloc", who are looking for a common candidate, but they say that "there is no need to experiment a lot" and that the candidate should be considered based on the criteria of assessing support, experience, responsibility and readiness to protect the state interest. By doing so, they indirectly suggest that it could be Đukanović again.

According to the results of a public opinion survey published in December by the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM), if Đukanović were to run again, 24,4 percent of citizens would certainly vote for him in the elections, while 39 percent would support one of the opposition candidates.

Even though the elections are approaching, other political entities do not have candidates yet. So far, the Democratic Front (DF), the Democrats and the non-parliamentary Europe Now Movement (PES) have announced that they will have their own.

Đukanović says that she is not surprised that PES is entering the presidential race, because, she explains, the good outcome in the October local elections gives them the motivation to believe that they will achieve the best result.

She adds that their interest in gaining power is so strong that they do not think about a common candidate, who, she claims, would have much more chances to win.

He notes that, according to recently published research, the leader of PES Milojko Spajic and his deputy Jakov Milatovic they rank "quite well" if their political experience is taken into account, primarily because of their economic program "Europe Now", which they developed when they were ministers in the previous government.

Although they announce that they will have their own representative in the elections, the Democrats are calling on the PES to come to an agreement, saying that many indicators show that a joint candidate would win in the first round of the election. However, Spajić claims that he currently does not see synergy with any entity, while Milatović does not rule it out.

As "Vijesti" wrote, PES estimates that Spajić might beat Đukanović in the first round as well.

Milatović and the vice-president are also mentioned as potential candidates Olivera Injac. Milatović said yesterday that PES is considering several options, and one of them is to support "someone from the side".

"Is that (Democrat leader) Aleksa Becic or someone else... I think that Bečić is an honorable and honest man, that he might be an adequate president. Certainly, our movement also has many such people who would cover that position well. Maybe it will be Spajić or me, so on the background of this victory in Podgorica, we will once again bring victory at the national level," he said.

Last night, after the session of the Presidency, it was announced from the PES that various options for participating in the elections were discussed, and that it was decided that in the coming days, the organization of collecting signatures, and the convening of the Main Committee, would be verified at the "proposals of decisions on participation in the election process".

They announce that they will start pre-election activities in all municipalities as soon as possible, in order to be ready for the elections.

Nikoleta Đukanović says that a potential agreement between PES and the Democrats would be more favorable to Bečić's party.

"Because the previous (local) elections showed the attitude of the voters towards their party, and I think that is the maximum they can achieve at the national level as well", adds the interlocutor.

When it comes to DF, from that alliance they announce that one of their leaders will Andrija Mandic to be a candidate if the DPS nominates the head of the party. His colleague Milan Knezevic, said last night in the program "Nachisto" on TV "Vijesti", that they have already collected 10 thousand signatures of citizens for their candidate.

"If it happens by some chance, and I think it is impossible, that our candidate does not enter the second round, we will support, regardless of political differences, Spajić, we will support Bečić, if he is in the second round. We are ready to make a public commitment by signing during the campaign", he said. Asked how she interprets the announcements about Mandić's candidacy, Đukanović replies that she believes that such a solution is being promoted even beyond the moves of the DPS, precisely because, as she states, the desire of certain leaders to reach positions of power, regardless of the circumstances.

"Unfortunately, I believe that there will be candidates who do not have the will and potential to democratize and Europeanize Montenegro, and who still have some support. Unfortunately, the Montenegrin political culture and understanding of democracy is quite low among citizens, not only among politicians, so they continue to support structures that do everything to distance Montenegro from the EU...

It only says that citizens have their own problems and expectations, which political leaders do not take into account when defining priorities and exercising power," the interviewee underlines.

Parties and groups of citizens can submit candidacies until February 26.

According to the Law on the Election of the President, if no candidate receives more than half of the valid votes of the voters, a second election round is held in 14 days. The two candidates who received the largest number of votes take part in it.

The president is elected for five years.

Đukanović: No one inspires confidence

When asked how the presidential elections will determine the parliamentary elections, regardless of when they follow, Đukanović answers that they can influence the voters' decision to a certain extent.

"Just as it was the case with the previous local elections, where those parties that recorded bad results additionally lost the trust of citizens, and just as those structures that were a great equaliser, in terms of results, got an additional motive, but also stronger foothold among citizens. How much such trust will really be justified is a separate question, since almost no political entity instills confidence that it really has the capacity, knowledge and will to reform and democratize society, strengthen institutions, and introduce the state into the EU," she states.

If there is a blockade, Đurović takes over the position of president

If the judges of the Constitutional Court are not elected and that institution does not come out of the blockade before the elections, it is not excluded that their regularity will be called into question, considering that this court is the last instance for election appeals.

Representatives of the international community also warned of the danger of such a scenario. In the event that it happens and the State Election Commission is unable to announce the final results of the election due to appeals, and bearing in mind that Đukanović's mandate lasts until May 20, according to the Constitution, the Speaker of the Parliament Danijela Đurović would take over the position of president.

Đukanović said yesterday at a meeting with members of the OSCE/ODIHR Mission that Montenegro is awaiting elections without a completed reform of the electoral legislation, in conditions of a deep institutional and political crisis, social polarization and strong interference from third parties.

"President Đukanović, along with his expressed readiness for further cooperation, emphasized that the great challenge of ensuring the regularity of elections in such conditions should be looked at with open eyes and how we can improve the situation together in order to reach an environment in which citizens could express themselves freely," they announced. from his cabinet.