Member of Parliament and Secretary General of the Democrats Boris Bogdanovic he said that, without exception, he will call to account all those responsible for organized crime and corruption.
"Nobody, and especially not the most responsible individuals in the security sector, the prosecution, the judiciary, must escape from justice. They must answer for all their misdeeds before independent institutions," said Bogdanović in an interview with "Vijesta".
Speaking about the arrests of some of the top police officers, he pointed out that the only hope is in a serious reform of the police system and restoring citizens' trust in the institutions that are supposed to protect them.
He said that the key to the stability of modern Montenegro is for civil forces to have the greatest support and to be the foundation and axis of all reform processes.
"So, the key factor that will determine the success and stability of the country is the unity of civil forces. Only by joint efforts and gathering around the values that form the foundation of modern and European Montenegro can we build a better future for all of us".
What does the fact that a part of the police top was arrested, including those who should be in the front lines in the fight against organized crime, say about the state?
The previous government provided us with the ultimate blockbuster - "Cops Gone Wild"! But unfortunately, this is not a reality show, but reality, the top of the state did not just merge with the mafia, but was in the function of the mafia, more precisely, the top of the state performed courier work for the mafia. This only happens in countries that have suffered the worst form of organized crime and corruption. We warned, pointed to facts and evidence and publicly called out, then lesser known, because no one was allowed to mention them, and now already stars of organized crime and corruption, which is why Aleksa Becic the then president of the Parliament of Montenegro, secretly followed by the most wanted fugitives and high-ranking members of the Kavak clan, Ljub Milović i Nebojše Bulgaria, while the state was silent.
It sounds as if we have all fallen into some cheap crime novel, while the public perception of the state is at stake, and the only hope is in a serious reform of the police system and the restoration of citizens' trust in the institutions that are supposed to protect them.
Will you raise in the Assembly the question of the responsibility of the former director of the police or the former chief special prosecutor, because the special prosecutor, the head of the Department for Organized Crime of the Police Administration, was accused...?
Organized crime and corruption are the plague of modern society that destroys institutions, kills hope and robs freedom. We regret to note that the key carriers of that virus were the top of the state, the top of the judiciary, the top of the prosecution, the top of the security sector... It's terrible what kind of country we lived in. It's good that we're alive.
We in the Assembly of Montenegro will not allow our country and its people to continue to be destroyed. We will hold accountable all those responsible for organized crime and corruption, without exception.
No one, and especially not the most responsible individuals in the security sector, the prosecutor's office, the judiciary, can escape from justice. They must answer for all their misdeeds before independent institutions. Our country and its people deserve justice and peace. We will fight for it. We will be the voice of those who have been deceived, robbed and oppressed.
If, in addition to all this, the former head of the ANB and the president of the Supreme Court are on trial, does this testify to some kind of criminal tentacles at the top of the state while it was managed by the DPS, which at the same time claims to be fighting to save the state?
Vesna Medenica, Blazo Jovanić, Sasa Cadjenovic, Verica Marash, Veselin Veljović, Veselin Vukotić, Dejan Perunicic...are direct personnel and friendly elections of the top of the DPS.
And while the DPS claimed to be fighting for the country, all recent investigations reveal that their most loyal officials were in bed with the worst forms of crime. But, instead of being ashamed or running away, they even boast that they slept and woke up with criminals for three decades while they "guarded" the state from the honest people of Montenegro. They were finally caught with their hands in a jam. There is no salvation for them.
Given that the Democrats and Aleksa Bečić supported Jakov Milatović for the second round of the presidential elections, do you think that the voters of the Democrats will listen and vote for him?
And for whom? For the one who opened a private university for himself, gave his brother a bank and a tin, the son of a wind power plant and hydroelectric power plant, the sister of real estate, shares and lucrative jobs, the wife of an elite destination... For the one who produced Vesna Medenica, Blaž Jovanić, Milivoj Katnić, Verica Maraš, Saša Čađenović? For the one who produced the system that killed Duško Jovanović, shot at Oliver Lakić, killed Slavoljub Šćekić? For the one who followed us, eavesdropped, stalked, arrested, harassed, tortured, fired...
Voters of the Democrats will not allow someone who is beneath the honor of Montenegro to decide the fate of Montenegro.
In what way will you help Milatović in the campaign and do you expect the campaign to be "dirty", given that the DPS has already used Vojislav Šešelj's statements on one of the television stations?
Our Central Election Headquarters is in full coordination with Jakov Milatović, all local and local committees are engaged in field activities every day, we are already providing a large number of members at Jakov Milatović's stands, we have leased over 160 billboards for Jakov Milatović's campaign, while our infrastructure is actively working on the political motivation of voters to go to the polls and vote for Jakov Milatović. Our coordination in this campaign is impeccable.
On the other hand, from those who claimed to be Aleksa Bečić commanded at the age of eleven Milosevic anything can be expected, but while others are grasping at straws, we are already ready for action. We will cross the finish line victorious with defiant smiles against the laughable negative campaign.
Regardless of the fact that the decree on the dissolution of the Assembly and the scheduling of elections is being contested before the Constitutional Court, have you already discussed in the party how to act in extraordinary parliamentary elections? Are there discussions about an alliance with another party, apart from GP URA?
These elections were much more than a political battle - they were a test of the strength and character of an entire people. And I can proudly say that as a country we showed courage, determination and unity, and that the best Montenegro - civil, tolerant and European - won. The victory of civil Montenegro over extremism, divisions and crime is not only a political victory, but also a moral and social victory.
By forming a civil bloc, we manifested understanding, cooperation, inclusiveness and tolerance - values that are necessary for the success of a modern and advanced state. The fact that this bloc is open to all other parties of a European and civic profile shows that everyone who wants to unite in the desire for progress can join. This block is actually the Montenegro we want to see - a modern, advanced, tolerant, prosperous country where one man and one party will never rule again, because each party has its advantages and disadvantages, and the monopoly on power leaves only disadvantages.
So the rule of one party in a parliamentary democracy is not a democracy, it is a dictatorship. This block is actually a joint fight against the dictatorship.
How possible is sincere cooperation between the Democrats and GP URA, given the kind of words and accusations you exchanged, including accusations of corruption of the prime minister?
There is no political subject on the political scene of Montenegro, which at a certain moment did not exchange harsh accusations with another political subject, but I must remind you that the conflict between the Democrats and the URA is the political conflict with the shortest tenure and it was only a temporary interruption of our common eight-year journey . That fight lasted only a few months, while we collaborated for almost seven full years. Now it doesn't matter who was right. It is important that both of us regret some of the words we have spoken.
Now is the time to build a new political culture together in which dialogue and joint work are the most powerful democratic weapons.
By sending the DPS into the opposition and the decisive actions of part of the Government against the mafia, the preconditions were acquired for us as mature people to build a modern, rich, European and civil Montenegro with united forces. Let our differences be an inspiration to others for dialogue and constructive debate, not for conflicts and divisions.
Who else from the parliamentary majority do you see as future post-election collaborators? Is there a DF whose one of the leaders is trying to disguise himself as a conciliator and possibly get the green light from Western embassies?
The key to the stability of modern Montenegro is for civil forces to have the greatest support and to be the foundation and axis of all reform processes. Therefore, the key factor that will determine the success and stability of the country is the unity of civil forces. Only by joint efforts and gathering around the values that form the foundation of modern and European Montenegro can we build a better future for all of us.
Only colleagues who sincerely fought against the former regime, and who sincerely and at every step represent civic and European values are welcome. Of course, words must be followed by deeds, but for a start it is good that we received confirmation that our long-standing conciliatory policy is a winning direction that everyone now accepts and affirms.
What should the new government in the capital city do first after taking over city services and the helm of the city?
These days we are witnessing the actions of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, which clearly and unequivocally prove that the country at all levels was subordinated to the carriers of the most serious forms of crime and corruption. The system that allowed such occurrences did not bypass the Capital, which surely found itself under the burden of this state disgrace.
And in this regard, it is necessary to immediately determine how much and for what purpose the money of the citizens of Podgorica was spent not only in the previous three decades, but also in the last few months of illegitimate government and the violent prevention of the transition of power, where we are witnessing the terrible abuses of the outgoing and worst city management in history Podgorica.
We must not hesitate and must act wisely and decisively to ensure that our cities and country are rebuilt on the principles of honesty, integrity and justice.
It is logical that one of the holders of the electoral lists should be a candidate for mayor of Podgorica
In two weeks, there could be a constitutive session of the City Council of the Capital City of Podgorica. Will there be any changes regarding the agreed division of power, it is mentioned that your party could express an expectation for the post of mayor?
The original agreement between the Democrats, ES, DF and URA was adapted, because colleague Milatović resigned from the position of mayor of Podgorica. From the point of view of democratic principles and past practice, it is logical that one of the holders of the election list should be a candidate for mayor of Podgorica, but that is a matter for our negotiating teams, which have complete negotiating autonomy.
Convinced of our principles, we in the Democrats know that the values we stand for are more important to us than any function or position, including the position of mayor. We will show it this time as well, but we will fight for the stated principles, because they are the foundation and purpose of our policy.
In the future, let our word be stronger than any political agreement, because this is the only way we can create a fairer and better society for everyone.
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