The Bosniak party has not yet received an invitation to enter the government, and if it comes to that, it will present its platform, the official answer was given to "Vijesta" from that party after Prime Minister Milojko Spajić openly said that he wants them in the executive branch.
The New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and the Democratic People's Party (DNP) are in principle not opposed to BS joining the reconstructed government, but the Democrats are still against it.
The interlocutor of "Vijesti" from the top of the BS said that "so far" no one has contacted them, nor talked to them, arranged or negotiated with them about joining the Government.
Another source from BS said that the party fears that the invitation to the Government could be a tactic of the Europe Now Movement (PES) in the clashes with the Democrats over the security sector, given that "there are no official negotiations yet". Unofficial sources of "Vijesti" from PES say that the story with BS is serious. The sources of "Vijesti" from Demokrat say the same, claiming that informal negotiations are "largely" underway.
NSD and DNP did not answer the questions of "Vijesti" as to why they support the entry of BS into the government, given that that party was a long-term coalition partner of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and whether this means that they do not would also interfere with the entry of the Social Democrats (SD) into the executive power, as well as whether they remain at the position that they will not cooperate with the DPS.
Slaven Radunović, head of the NSD parliamentary group, told "Vijesta" earlier that they do not mind any party entering the executive power that accepts everything they agreed to by signing the coalition agreement.
The spokesperson of the Democrats told "Vijesti" yesterday that this parliamentary majority and the Government have shown that they function excellently and have "impressive results" and that this "should not be tested or jeopardized in any way".
BS was considered a certain constituent of the new government until the middle of October last year, but then Spajić suddenly abandoned the arrangement with them and agreed with the Democrats, the Socialist People's Party (SNP), the Albanian Forum and the Albanian Alliance, with the parliamentary support of NSD and DNP (coalition for the future of Montenegro). At the time, PES said that BS refused to be in power with ZBCG and that he asked for SD to be included in it, while BS stated that they did not even have time to comment on Spajić's offer of a minority government with ZBCG. , and some sources from BS claimed that they did not even receive a formal offer. After that, there was turbulence in BS, and accusations that leader Ervin Ibrahimović was to blame for the party's failure to enter power.
Yesterday, BS replied to "Vijesta" that there were no official negotiations on joining the reconstructed government, but they believe that the public calls from the parliamentary majority for BS to be part of the 44th government are "one of the indicators of the broad coalition potential" of that party.
"The Bosniak party is the largest minority party that won six parliamentary mandates, which is the second largest opposition party and certainly an important factor on the political scene," said BS.
On Monday, Spajić said that he did not know why anyone would have anything against the entry of BS into the Government.
"I think that BS is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, representative of the Bosniak people in Montenegro. I said that a long time ago, I always see them as partners and as someone we definitely want involved in all decision-making levers," Spajić told reporters at a press conference.
He reminded that even today people from BS are in the system because they wanted "the deepest possible cooperation with them".
"Recomposition of the parliamentary majority can lead to new elections"
The head of the Democrats' Parliamentary Club, Boris Bogdanović, said in a statement yesterday that his party will not support the participation in government of any party that in the previous period "did not condemn the activities of former high-ranking police officials, who organized attacks on members of national minorities through Sky applications, with the intention of are attributed to the winners of the August 30 election".
He stated this in a statement on the occasion of the arrest of cigarette smuggling suspects from the so-called "Grand Team", which the current government and part of the opposition links to the DPS.
He said that the Democrats as partners will support only those political entities that "unreservedly stand in the defense of justice", rejecting any attempts to "enable the unhindered operation of criminal structures through national divisions and manipulations".
The spokesperson of the Democrats, Mitar Paunović, said that the primary goal of that party is to preserve the stability and continuity of the ruling coalition.
"We believe that any rearrangement of the parliamentary majority could jeopardize the achieved results and potentially lead to political instability and new elections, which is not in the interest of our citizens," Paunović told "Vijesta" in response to the question of why they are against the entry of BS into the Government.
He adds that their obligation to citizens is to cooperate exclusively with those who demonstrate a strong commitment to the fight against crime and corruption, with a clear condemnation of all previous inactions.
"BS had the possibility to be part of the parliamentary majority, but it refused to cooperate with DNP and NSD. Nothing has changed there so far," said Paunović.
That is why, as he added, they will consider the proposal for BS to enter the Government, but they believe that it is not realistic, and that it will not have the support of the party authorities, "because this parliamentary majority and the Government have shown that they function excellently and have produced impressive results".
"That should not be tested or endangered in any way," said Paunović.
When asked how the eventual entry of BS into the Government will affect the relations between the Democrats and PES, he answered that accurately predicting such changes can be challenging, but the Democrats will certainly continue to nurture a principled policy.
"If we assess that the presence of BS in the Government does not compromise our ability to effectively contribute to the progress and well-being of Montenegro, our principles of transparency, justice and democracy, then we will continue our work within the Government. We have always put the interests of citizens and the state above individual and party interests, and that will remain our guide in future negotiations," said Paunović, answering the question of whether he will remain in the government if BS enters it.
According to the coalition agreement of the parties in power, the reconstruction of the Government is planned by the end of the year at the latest, with the entry of the ZBCG coalition. "Vijesti" previously wrote that the Prime Minister's idea is to carry out the reconstruction in two phases, in spring and autumn.
NSD leader and President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić said yesterday in the Referat show, which is broadcast on Gradska TV and TVVCG, that the complete reconstruction of the Government will take place by the summer at the latest, "because the results in just three months are impressive".
The public has been speculating for some time that those who did not sign the coalition agreement could also enter the executive branch.
That one of the potential candidates for a position in the government is BS, is evidenced by some moves of that party and the Government. BS hardly criticizes the work of Spajić's cabinet, which, on the other hand, appoints some of that party's cadres to government positions... Last week, Ervin Ibrahimović's party refused to join the part of the opposition led by DPS in filing a criminal complaint against the boss. Assembly of Mandić, due to highlighting the tricolor in the cabinet.
Paunović: Do not change the winning team
Spokesman Paunović said that the intention of the Democrats is to work (the majority) in accordance with the principles and agreements that serve the best interests of all citizens.
"Therefore, we call on all parties to adhere to the norms they have signed. Our firm recommendation is not to change the winning team", he said.
Perić: The Prime Minister limits blackmail capital
One of the initiators of the Turnover, Srđan Perić, commenting on the eventual entry of BS into the executive branch, said that it is obvious that the Prime Minister wants wider support for the Government and thereby limit the blackmail capital of any of its constituents, reduce the pressure of the signatories of the coalition agreement, but also buy time in with which the executive power functions stably.
With this, as he added, the Prime Minister sends a message of inclusivity, but also strengthens his position.
"What is more important for the citizens is the answer to the question of what this reconstruction would bring in terms of programming. At the same time, we should not agree to the rhetoric of the parties who announce that they are partially responsible for this or that part of the Government's program. They enter the Government whose key promise is a net monthly salary of 1.000 euros, full employment, huge infrastructure facilities, and all constituents should share responsibility for that," Perić told "Vijesta".
According to him, otherwise, the executive power would de facto turn into political fiefdoms, where everyone in their field, to the detriment of others, implements their own agenda for promotion before the next elections.
He says that it is time to leave far-fetched stories about honor, honesty, one's own sacrifices in political struggles.
"We are witnessing the struggle for positioning and the expansion of political influence. Who will go through that process and how, that is the matter of those who negotiate", he said.
Whether someone could potentially be dissatisfied with his status and the lever of power that would accrue to him in the announced reconstruction of the Government, that, he believes, is rather a matter of political calculation and skill, rather than ideological orientation or grounding in principles that are subordinate to the common good.
"We see that as political subjects get closer to the desired position, they 'soften the rhetoric' with whom and how they can. And this is nothing new in politics, neither here nor anywhere else, but let's note it so that we would demand responsibility from those in power for what has been done, and not to listen to stories from election cycle to election cycle that mean almost nothing concrete, except for determining the party's rhetoric," said Perić.
He added that it is a reasonable expectation that those who enter the Government do not behave as if they are the opposition in power, but that they account for what they have done.
Bonus video:
