Vatroslav Belan was elected as the new president of the Liberal Party, while Amar Borančić, Jelena Marković and Aleksandar Ljumović were elected as vice-presidents of that party.
The new leadership of the Liberals was voted at today's Conference of the Liberal Party in Podgorica.
Belan, as reported, said that his goal is for the liberals to be the leading force in the process of European integration and Montenegro's membership in the EU, and that he will strengthen the liberal idea and "modernize the LL network with new, young liberal leaders through a new political paradigm on public scene".
He said that the liberals will be a reliable partner to their traditional allies with whom they participated in the parliamentary elections, but that they want to talk to everyone who has a vision of a European and civil Montenegro, in order to jointly contribute to the accelerated development of Montenegrin society.
Through the election program, Belan presented the principles of political activity and said that he remains an "unwavering advocate and fighter for individual rights and freedom", a fighter for the affirmation of Montenegro in the international community and within the Euro-Atlantic family of states, understanding "the challenges and trends of this century in our homeland, region and the world", and that liberals will offer concrete solutions to the contemporary needs of Montenegrin society, which, as he stated, "must change and be different than it is today", and that everyone who shares such values is welcome.
The conference declared former president Andrija Popović as the honorary president of the party for his "long-term contribution to the idea of liberalism, open society and civil Montenegro", but also for leading the party in difficult and challenging times.
The delegates also unanimously adopted the Resolution on the political activity of the LPCG 2023-2027, which, as announced, determines the directions of action of the liberals for the next four years.
"The resolution is based on the idea of preserving the dignity and rights of every human being, building a free, open and modern society, strengthening new approaches to the economy, green, blue and circular economy, creating conditions for the development of IT and new businesses, but also reforms in education and health and public to the administration in order to achieve the standards for full membership of Montenegro in the EU", added LP.
In the formal part of the Conference, delegates were addressed by Roman Jakič, the leader of the LIBSEEN network of liberals in Southeast Europe, representatives of the LDP of Macedonia, the VVD of the Netherlands, as well as the leader of the ALDE Alliance of Liberals of Europe, Ilhan Kjučuk, via video message.
"The representatives of the Montenegrin partner parties, DPS, SD, BS, HGI, as well as the Europe Now Movement and the SDP, also greeted the delegates," concludes the announcement of the Liberal Party.
Bogdanović: LP the most consistent ally of DPS
The General Secretary of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Aleksandar Bogdanović said at the conference, as reported by the DPS, that representatives of the Liberal Party are persistent fighters for democracy, civic values and European Montenegro.
"I am happy that today I am with my friends, those who have always had a clear relationship and dedicated partnership with the Democratic Party of Socialists, and who, even after all the previous alliances, have preserved their distinctiveness and uniqueness," said Bogdanović.
He said that today, after so many years, the Liberal Party is the most consistent ally of the DPS, because, as he assessed, the coalitions from the previous election cycles, during which they acted together, clearly speak about this.
"In our struggle for civil and European Montenegro, there were no big or small, more or less important. Because, in it, the contribution of every honest partner was equally important, and the liberals have persisted on this path since the beginning of the nineties. 19 years ago, the members of the Liberal Party entered a new, uncertain, but another chapter which - as it turned out - will be honorable and significant, and in which they will remain loyal to ideas and principles", said Bogdanović.
He said that the Liberal Party, led first by Miodrag Živković, then by Andrija Popović, was a "sincere partner who uncompromisingly advocated for everything they established as goals" when Montenegro's independence was restored in 2006.
"Even when they chose different electoral performances, when they were not part of our coalition - we equally respected their actions, considering that the Liberal Party is unquestionable when it comes to the affirmation of civic values, and the path to NATO and the European Union.
"For this reason, today I especially want to thank my respected friend Andrija Popović for his leadership of the Liberal Party so far, during which we strengthened our cooperation, which was exemplary. I am sure that we will continue to cooperate, because I know the extent to which Andrija is dedicated to political ideals and that he can give a lot more - both to his party and to Montenegrin politics", said Bogdanović.
He also stated that "a new political era has come, in which the ideas that connect us are again on trial".
"Civil and European Montenegro got an alternative - unworthy and retrograde, the one that diverted us from the path to membership in the European Union, and which destroys both the system and society.
"That's why in this new democratic struggle, every individual is equally important, and every partner party is equal. I don't have to tell you how much perseverance, and dedication to the goals that unite us, is expected at this moment. For this reason, I am especially glad that the candidate for the new president of the Liberal Party, the man Vatroslav Belan is. After the previous election campaign, when I got to know him well, today I can say with certainty that he is an exceptional, honorable and dedicated man, someone who deserves a place in the future of Montenegrin politics ”, he said.
Bogdanović expressed his belief that Belan will act "in terms of strengthening the membership base and further spreading the idea", but also that the Liberal Party with him will continue to be a solid support for all subjects, not only from the "Together" coalition, but also from the "broader of the political spectrum in which all our traditional partners are."
"After all, that's what the entire public expects from someone who should succeed Andrija Popović, who gave his whole self to this party," said the general secretary of DPS.
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