Both the government and the opposition are trying to profit from the decision to postpone the census again, but such a move primarily strengthens the perception Milojko Spajić as a prime minister who strives for stability and inclusiveness, the interlocutors of "Vijesti" assessed.
They said this while commenting on the Spajić government's decision to postpone the process of collecting statistical data from citizens for the second time the day before yesterday. On Wednesday evening, in an electronic session, the government postponed the census for three days, so it will be held from December 3 to 18, instead of November 30 to December 15.
The decision was made after consultations within the parliamentary majority, and after the strongest opposition party, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), announced on Wednesday morning that it will not participate in the census until all the conditions agreed with the authorities on the control of that process are met. The DPS said that by the start of the census, their remaining requirements must be fulfilled - to complete the number of enumerators and to create a specification for data control software.
Ana Nenezic from the Institute for Socio-Political Research Analitiko, said that Spajić's decision to postpone the census once again is a commendable step towards strengthening the democratic dialogue and process in Montenegro, especially because, she says, it was made without the full consent of the new parliamentary majority. Only the Democratic People's Party (DNP) was against the decision. Milan Knežević.
Nenezić assessed that, in a political sense, Spajić profited because, she says, his decision to postpone the census and include all relevant political parties in the dialogue on the control of that process demonstrated responsibility and the ability to compromise in order to cooperate.
"This approach strengthens the perception of Spajić as a prime minister who strives for stability and inclusiveness, which can contribute to strengthening his political position," said Nenezić to "Vijesta".
On the other hand, he adds, DPS, politically speaking, can be considered as the party that lost, "at least in the short-term political sense".
One of the founders of the Reversal movement Srdjan Peric, notes that everyone is trying to profit politically from the situation regarding the new postponement of the census.
"Those who are part of the agreement that includes a delay of several days - that they managed to reach a compromise. Those who are against it - to now alarm the public in the sense that something dramatic is happening", he pointed out.
Ultimately, as Perić adds, it is not unexpected.
"Now let's put aside why the previous government did not want a dialogue on this topic and the fact that the opposition was waiting for a moment to react, even though their staff actually wrote legal solutions that they questioned because they meant, which is true, less transparency and inclusiveness in the relationship to the previous list. For the citizens, the most important thing is that what was promised is implemented," said Perić.
He says that it should be monitored and that no one should be given blank trust in advance.
"Let's learn to check ourselves. This is how we protect each other from the temptations that come before us. At the same time, this confirms whether or not there is something else behind the agreement between the government and the opposition", assesses Perić.
Ana Nenezić believes that the behavior of the DPS, which includes multiple changes in attitude, from accepting to rejecting the agreement, then announcing a boycott of the census, and then again accepting and again refusing to participate right before the start of the census, provides an insight into "internal tensions and strategic dilemmas within the party ".
"The change in the position of the DPS causes confusion among their voters, because inconsistency in political decisions can reduce confidence in the party's ability to provide clear and stable leadership," Nenezić said.
DPS started the census boycott campaign in October, after the former government, which he was at the head of Dritan Abazovic, refused their requests for delay and control of that process.
The census was supposed to start on November 1, but Spajić's government postponed it as soon as it was elected, for the period from November 30 to December 15. The DPS then announced that they remain committed to continuing the boycott activities until "adequate legal conditions and complete monitoring of the census process" are met.
After that, Spajić held several meetings with the opposition, the non-governmental sector and the councils of minority peoples, which resulted in the signing of an agreement on November 21, which provided for the control of the input of collected data, the development of software for their verification and the prohibition of parties to conduct a census campaign, as well as the expansion census commissions with two members of the opposition and a representative of minority nations... Amendments to the Census Law were also adopted, which, at the opposition's insistence, do not contain the date of the census.
However, DPS came out with new demands on Wednesday - to determine the software specification by the start of the census and to delay that process. When it was announced from Monstat that the specification was completed, DPS was dissatisfied that the opposition did not participate in the drafting. After that, the Government postponed the census, and the DPS Presidency accepted it, saying that they are ready to make a full contribution in the new period "in order to fully fulfill all the conditions for holding the census that will start on December 3", which is the first time indicated that they accept the date of holding the census.
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Nenezić says that, if this behavior of the DPS is part of a deliberate strategy, it could be interpreted as an attempt by that party to strengthen its political influence, testing the limits of its negotiating power. On the other hand, he states, it can also be interpreted as a sign of internal disorganization and the lack of a clear strategy", which indicates potential internal divisions within the party".
"Also, Monstat, as the competent institution for the census, lost due to the reduction of its autonomy and ability to conduct the census independently, since political decisions took precedence in the process. Although challenges in the implementation of the census are still present, especially due to the decision to hold the census in December, contrary to all international recommendations, it is clear that Monstat must adapt to the current complex political circumstances", she said.
However, as she stated, if the final agreement is reached, it will indicate "growing political maturity and the ability to reach a compromise in the interest of the citizens of Montenegro."
"Especially because reaching a consensus is of key importance for the successful implementation of the census and a prerequisite for obtaining accurate data, but also for calming the tensions and polarization in society that this activity causes", adds the interlocutor.
Perić believes that the additional movement of the census will not cause any colossal consequences.
"It is also commendable that in this period the story of who declares how has been shifted in the direction that it is more important that people freely declare and that data entry is verifiable", he emphasized.
For this step forward, as he added, the citizens also deserve credit, because, according to him, that attitude prevailed in the public space. He also says that it is good that the parties have pledged not to conduct a census campaign.
Abazović accused Spajić of working for "sponsors"
Spajić's decision to postpone the census was criticized yesterday by former Prime Minister Abazović, who said that no one who follows the situation in Montenegro could have been surprised by the news.
He claims that it was a "promise given to the sponsors" who, as he said, "approved the creation of a new (ruling) majority".
"The only surprise is the fact that Spajić proved in less than a month that he is not the essential prime minister of this country and that the strings are being pulled far from the government building," Abazović wrote on his Facebook account.
The Europe Now Movement (PES) responded that the former prime minister "cannot hide his obsession with Spajić" due to losing his seat.
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PES states in a statement that Abazović was voted into the position of prime minister thanks to the DPS, and after he was left without the position, he also "was able to spend huge amounts of citizens' money on official trips. They claim that he therefore wants to "draw attention to himself" by attacking the current prime minister.
Perić: Whoever breaks the agreement takes responsibility
According to Perić, the situation regarding the census also explains the models of action on the Montenegrin political scene.
"The first is to induce a crisis in the resolution of which those who created it participate, the second is to make decisions 'over the knee' with the explanation that there is no other way, that you completely control the situation and that you make historically important decisions and lead epoch-making processes ", he said.
He says that one should not be naive and think that political actors of both sexes will change their modus operandi overnight, "the first or the second described".
"But this is an opportunity for the citizens to insist that what was agreed upon be implemented... Anyone who would create confusion in this process or avoid the implementation of what was agreed upon would take responsibility for the consequences of this kind of dishonesty and irresponsibility," emphasized Perić.
The councils welcome Spajić's move, but demand the fulfillment of the agreement
The councils/councils of less numerous peoples and national communities announced yesterday that they welcome Spajić's decision to postpone the census again.
"We believe that there is a good will to make an additional effort to ensure all technical circumstances, including the appropriate software system. Likewise, we expect the flexibility to meet the legitimate demands of the council for the participation of all interested representatives in commissions and bodies, both at the municipal level and in Monstat itself, in the control of data entry, as well as flexibility regarding the period of the total duration of the census", they pointed out. are in a joint statement, stating that they want "full implementation" of the agreement reached.
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The statement is signed by the leaders of the Bosniak Council, Suljo Mustafić, the National Council of Albanians, Faik Nika, the Croatian National Council, Zvonimir Deković, the Muslim Council, Sabrija Vulić, the Roma Council, Mensur Šaljaj, and the Serbian National Council, Momčilo Vuksanović.
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