The Europe Now Movement (PES) and the coalition "For the Future of Montenegro" (ZBCG) did not discuss the reconstruction of the Government, although ZBCG says that the process should follow after the New Year holidays, a few months after that or in the first half of 2024.
PES unofficially told "Vijesti" that there was no talk of reconstruction with ZBCG, but that it is certain during 2024, when, as explained by a source from the top of that party, all the constituents of the parliamentary majority agree on it, based on coalition agreement on power.
That document foresees the expansion of the Government Milojko Spajić (PES) with the entry of ZBCG representatives into it, until the end of 2024. That coalition consists of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrije Mandić and Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević.
A source from one of those parties unofficially told "Vijesta" that until the weekend, when ZBCG officials sent messages about the reconstruction, there was no discussion with PES about it. He states that there is no information that the second constituent of ZBCG had contacts with the strongest ruling party on that occasion.
That interlocutor says that the statements of their officials about the reconstruction probably represent "testing" of the partners in power, but possibly also pressure to bring about a change in Spajić's cabinet, which was elected less than two months ago.
A Vijesti source from the top of Democratic Montenegro said that "there was no talk in the ruling majority" about the reconstruction of the Government
The president of NSD and one of the leaders of ZBCG Andrija Mandić said last weekend that "in a few months after the New Year" the reconstruction of the Government should follow.
"Ministry that ZBCG should receive has been determined very precisely. I expect that our ministers, when they take office, will continue to do the work that we have been doing for years, but not as the opposition but as the government, to ensure complete stability in Montenegro, and then to build relations with Serbia, which both Montenegro and Serbia", he announced in an interview with "Tanjug".
His colleague from DNP Milun Zogović he said that, "after the excellent results achieved by the 44th Government in a very short period of time", it is possible for the reconstruction to take place immediately after the New Year's holidays or in the first half of the following year.
In an interview with "Dan", published on Sunday, he said that it is clear that the agreement states a deadline for the implementation of the reconstruction, but that this does not mean "that it is not already ripe for it to happen immediately".
"The assembly led by Andrija Mandić produced results that the government led by the Democratic Party of Socialists could not have. That's why I don't see why we wouldn't get the opportunity to contribute to the resolution of all the challenges faced by the 44th Government through the reconstruction of the Government", he pointed out.
The coalition agreement on government stipulates that the ZBCG coalition will receive five seats in the Government after the reconstruction. The vice-presidential post for infrastructure, as well as the departments of transport, education, tourism and spatial planning and urbanism, are intended for that association. Those departments are now part of wider ministries, which means that, if there is a reconstruction, they will have to be separated from them.
The document says that the reconstruction is planned no later than the 2025 budget, which should mean - by the end of next year. It was stated that, "in accordance with the consistent and complete observance of all provisions of the agreement", the Prime Minister undertakes to implement it.
Until it arrives, the constituents of ZBCG will propose "in order to make the transition of the department as simple as possible" the state secretaries in the ministries they should receive. The state secretaries from that coalition are Dragan Bojović (Ministry of Education), Aleksandar Sekulic (Ministry of Health) i Zoran Djukic (Ministry of Transport). All three are representatives of DNP.
Spajić's government currently has 19 ministries and 23 members. If there is a reconstruction, it will have 23 ministries and 28 members.
Đukić: Testing the ground or the right time for reconstruction
Civic activist Stefan Đukić assessed that no logic can be found in the reconstruction of the Government after such a short period of its functioning. On the other hand, he says, the logic that exists is party-based, "and it always surpasses all other logics when we look at our reality."
Đukić states that two interpretations are possible - that the ZBCG coalition, which wants to take some direct levers of power, is testing the ground, or that the first effects of the new government are good in the eyes of the EU, that ZBCG is also perceived as a cooperative partner, and that an opportunity has presented itself. to carry out the reconstruction of the executive power now.
"In the coming days, we will find out which of these two scenarios is correct. Both of them have the ability to influence their coalition partners, so we will see who will prevail in this fight. It should be emphasized that there are no dramatic or unprecedented things and that something like this is completely normal", adds the interlocutor.
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