One step closer to the split - where the new conflict between PES and Milatović leads

Conflict between the Europe Now Movement (PES) and the head of state and deputy president of that party Jakov Milatović due to his decision to return three acts to the MPs for re-decision, it is a sign that the differences between him and the Prime Minister and the leader of PES Milojko Spajić increasingly larger and inevitably lead to their separation.

This is how the interlocutors of "Vijesti" interpret the latest disputes between Milatović and his party, caused by the president's move the day before yesterday not to sign the changes to the law proposed by the Government and the parliamentary majority party.

Milatović explained the decision by saying that some changes (the Law on Business Companies) are in conflict with the provisions of the Constitution, that others (the Law on Electronic Communications) require the opinion of the European Commission, and that the application of the third (the Law on Local Self-Government Financing) would produce negative effects on the development of some municipalities.

The PES responded that his move leaves room "for suspicion of a political motive with the aim of sabotaging the new parliamentary majority", which, they say, they do not want to believe, but add that they conclude "that it is accidental but not beneficial ignorance". the head of state.

Professor of the Faculty of Political Sciences in Belgrade Milos Besic, assesses that the new conflict between PES and Milatović further deepens the gap between the two leaders of that party, but also shows that Spajić did not in any way consult his party colleague when submitting proposals for changes to the law, that there is no political communication between them and that each it has a political program and a nomenclature.

"There is no doubt that the restoration of the law is only one of the moves that further distance Spajić and Milatović, and there is no doubt that they are moving slowly, and it seems to me surely, in the direction of the final split, that is, the split. This will, of course, completely rearrange the Montenegrin political scene and lead to a new political constellation. We will see what the balance of power between the two will be in the future and how it will affect the distribution of forces of other political actors", said Bešić to "Vijesta".

Professor at the University "Donja Gorica" Nikoleta Djukanovic, states that regardless of the reasons for which Milatović returned the laws, the reaction of PES speaks in favor of the fact that the split of that party is "not only certain, but apparently factual and ended".

"There are numerous examples that pointed to earlier deep differences between the two leaders, which they justified with democratic pluralism. However, it has long been certain that these are two different concepts and completely different strategic approaches to the development of the party, but also to the implementation of government. Although we haven't had cohabitation in Montenegro for some time, now it is obvious, even though the president and the prime minister still come from the same party," she told "Vijesta".

Đukanović notes that the announcement of the PES split has been going on for a long time, both in relation to the attitudes and actions of Spajić and Milatović, and in relation to the other members of the party who fall into one of the two groups. He explains that the position of the government, in which PES is located, has priority over internal party interests. However, he says that could change.

"In this case, these differences are large enough that they will override the interest in party cohesion and the best possible positioning in the next elections," says the interlocutor.

Yesterday, Milatović's cabinet did not respond to questions regarding the conflict with PES, and "Vijesti" could not get a comment from that party either.

The conflict over the return of the law is only one in a series of disputes that occurred in the past year in PES, that is, between its leaders.

In February of last year, Milatović criticized Spajić and the party after it was established that the PES leader also has Serbian citizenship. After that, in April, the Main Committee (GO) of the party decided without Milatović that the party would go to the elections independently, which Spajić advocated, and not in a wider coalition, which was the idea of ​​his deputy. There were also disagreements when considering the electoral list. Disagreements continued at the end of August when the General Assembly accepted Spajić's plan to form a cabinet with part of the long-time allies of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which Milatović also criticized. Spajić later opted for another model, and Milatović continued to criticize him even after the formation of the government.

Miloš Bešić says that it is obvious that Spajić still controls the party and that, from the position of prime minister, he thinks he is acting autonomously in such a way as not to allow Milatović, as his deputy and head of state, to have an influence on important issues. He emphasizes that he does not see the possibility of resolving the friction between them.

"The problem here is not the laws that have been returned. They (Spajić and Milatović) overcame a crisis recently, when the governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro (CBCG) was being elected. I can overcome this crisis in the same way, but a new reason and a new crisis will follow. If not this case, then the next one or one of the following ones may lead to a final separation", underlines the interlocutor.

Milatović said in a New Year's interview with "Vijesta" that his activity in the PES bodies was "de facto frozen", and that it was important for him to remain in the party after becoming president in order to "contribute to the consolidation of the political situation in Montenegro". .

Answering the question if he has any concrete thoughts about what he will do if he were to leave PES or no longer be in it, he said that he had the impression that his political association with certain individuals or political groups was, perhaps even false. represented by certain structures from PES, which, as he said, might have been more visible in PES if he was not in that party.

"Milojko Spajić and Jakov Milatović are PES. And PES does not exist without one or the other", he said, adding that not everyone entered PES "with the same good intentions", but that time "will best separate the wheat from the chaff".

Spajić and Milatović created PES in the summer of 2022. That party has since won power in Podgorica and several other municipalities, and won last year's presidential and parliamentary elections.

Milatović was supported by a colleague from the PES Presidency

The President of the Municipality of Danilovgrad, Aleksandar Grgurović, yesterday supported Milatović's decision to return the amendment to the Law on Local Self-Government Financing to the Assembly for reconsideration.

Grgurović is a member of the PES Presidency.

He assessed that the promulgation of that law would cause problems in the financing of municipalities in the coastal and central regions.