Will there be a change of government in Podgorica before the end of the presidential elections: In other people's seats until the second round?

Although the outgoing Podgorica authorities claim that after the Constitutional Court decides on the election appeals, they will enable the constitution of a new local parliament as soon as possible, part of the election winners claim that the defeated parties will continue to obstruct the change of administration in the capital.

List holder of the Citizens' Movement (GP) URA in the October elections in Podgorica Luka Rakcevic, assesses that, if one takes into account the fact that the Constitutional Court came out of the blockade at the end of February, it is clear that everything was done so that the DPS would control the local government at least until the second round of the presidential elections, which is expected on April 2. The first is scheduled for March 19.

He claims that DPS will thus try to provide a certain institutional advantage to its presidential candidate and leader Milo Đukanović.

DPS is in power in Podgorica four and a half months after the defeat, because the head of the Election Commission (IC) of the Capital City is from that party Veselin Vukcevic, does not allow that body to announce the final election results until the Constitutional Court has ruled on the appeals.

The institution, which was without a quorum from September 13 last year until February 27, announced that it will do so this week. Their decision will create formal conditions for the transition of power in the capital.

Rakčević told "Vijesti" that the winners should do everything in their power to change the administration as soon as possible, but he states that it is not realistic to expect that a session of the capital's Assembly will be scheduled at least until the first round of elections. He points out that it is completely clear that its president will Đorđe Suhih to make maximum use of the possible deadlines so that the outgoing government will meet the second round of elections in decision-making positions.

"However, the day after the presidential elections, we can constitute the administration, and by then we need to define everything that has not yet been agreed, and that was pending until the final results of the local elections are announced," said Rakčević.

The leader of the Suhih local parliament told "Vijesti" that he will schedule the session within the legal, permitted deadline, and that he will "make sure" that it happens as soon as possible.

"To tell you the truth, I don't know how much the presidential election can affect the coalition agreement, and how much it can affect the presidential election. In any case, I will look into scheduling the session as soon as possible. I think it's time to finish what practically should have been finished earlier," he announced, adding that the presidential election will not have any influence on his decision.

As "Vijesti" was previously informed by that institution, the Constitutional Court has 27 appeals regarding the October local elections, which were held in 14 municipalities. Among the complaints related to the Podgorica elections are those of the Svetosava Serbian List, which did not pass the census.

Some municipalities declared final results despite appeals. Out of a total of five in connection with which appeals were filed, the results were announced in Budva and Kolašin. Apart from Podgorica, there are no final results in Pljevlja and Plav either.

List holder of the Democratic Front (DF) in Podgorica Jelena Borovinić Bojović, she told "Vijesti" that, as far as she is concerned, there are no obstacles for the Assembly of the capital to be constituted immediately after the decision of the Constitutional Court, i.e. after determining the final results, and then to proceed with the election of the mayor "and everything that lies ahead".

After the Constitutional Court decides, the IC of the Capital City determines the final results within 12 hours from the finality or enforceability of the appeal decisions.

Then, according to the Law on Local Self-Government and the Statute of the Capital City, the president of the previous convocation of the local parliament schedules the first session of the newly elected assembly, no later than 15 days after the publication of the final results. The session is held no later than 15 days after convening.

If the parliament is not constituted (by electing the president) 60 days after the announcement of the results, the head of state calls for new elections.

According to the same acts, the mayor is elected no later than 30 days after the constitution of the assembly.

The Europe Now Movement (PES), DF, Democrats and GP URA agreed to form a government in Podgorica, and that the deputy president of PES Jakov Milatovic be the mayor, Borovinić Bojović the head of the Assembly, and the Democrats and GP URA get the positions of deputy mayors.

Although in the meantime PES has appointed Milatović as the presidential candidate, from that party, DF and GP URA claim that the agreement reached is still in force.

"Vijesti" did not receive a comment on this topic from the holder of the list of Democrats Danilo Saranovic.

Borovinić Bojović said that the coalition in Podgorica is stable, and that she believes that the winner's negotiations "will gain momentum after leaving the institutional blockade and will be constructive and effective."

She reminds that she has repeatedly pointed out that the presidential and local elections do not have a cause-and-effect relationship, except that, as she states, both events are a continuation of the democratization of Montenegro, i.e. of the process started with the change of government at the state level on August 30, 2020.

"I will respect the electoral will of the citizens in all directions, including in the context of the electoral and result order, regardless of the election outcome of my colleague Milatović's candidacy. My principle is to solve existing problems, not to create new ones", said the interlocutor.

Asked if PES informed her who could be their candidate for mayor if Milatović is elected head of state, Borovinić Bojović replied that they had no more specific discussions on that topic.

Recently, Milatović did not directly answer the question of who could replace him if he becomes president, but only said that "Podgorica is certainly in good hands."

Rakčević also says that the winner's agreement is valid, and whoever is in the position of mayor believes that Podgorica will have a responsible administration for the next four years.

Who could potentially be a candidate for mayor instead of Milatović, remains to be defined, he says.

"I am asking all colleagues from the parties not to reduce the story of the formation of a new administration to political trade, because I think that above all else there is an interest in forming a stable administration... We will see who will personally be the first man of the city, but what is clear is Mr. Milatović has repeatedly said that the agreement between these parties remains in force", emphasizes Rakčević.

When asked when he expects the coalition agreement of the parties of the future government to be signed, the interlocutor replies that, if it was before the General Assembly of the URA, they would initial it tomorrow. He adds that it is logical that the negotiations on the constitution of the government will be conducted in the next two weeks.

"Especially after the end of the first round of elections, when things are clear, so that at the first session of the parliament, which would be held at the beginning of April, the president of the parliament, mayor and deputy mayors could be elected", adds Rakčević.

On the other hand, a member of the PES Presidency Filip Ivanovic, told the newspaper yesterday only that the party and Milatović are currently "maximum committed to the successful implementation of the campaign for the presidential elections" in which they expect to win, and that soon, after the position of the Constitutional Court and the outcome of the elections, "there will be enough space to comment on the transition authorities in Podgorica".

In the elections in Podgorica, DPS lost power after 24 years. The list "All for our city", led by that party, won 24 mandates, PES 13, the coalition gathered around DF 11, Democrats six and GP URA four.

Apart from Svetosavska, neither the Socialist People's Party nor Preokret entered the Podgorica parliament.

Borovinić Bojović: Decent deadlines have long been passed

Borovinić Bojović says that all the winners of the Podgorica elections showed "patience instead of destruction", and that the citizens of Podgorica showed the greatest patience.

"Because almost half a year ago, they clearly expressed their desire and their attitude to disempower DPS, and due to various obstructions, they have not yet received the formalization of the electoral will. Both from the position of the citizens and from the position of us, their representatives, decent deadlines have long since been broken. Nevertheless, it is good and important that we are finally getting out of the institutional blockade and that we are on the threshold of formal conditions for exercising the electoral will. In accordance with that, I can only say that the question of the formation of the government is a matter of responsible attitude towards the citizens", she underlined.