Disputes between party colleagues, the president of the state Jakov Milatović and the Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, which have been going on for a year, resulted yesterday in the resignation of Milatović from all positions in the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES), which, according to "Vijesti" interlocutors, was expected.
Milatović and Spajić founded the Europe Now Movement in June 2022, a few months after the fall of the expert government Zdravka Krivokapića in which there were ministers (of economy and finance). Although both of them publicly denied it for a long time, the passing between Milatović and Spajić began in February of last year when Spajić decided to run for president of the country, which he failed because it was determined that he had Serbian citizenship...
Milatović informed the public about his resignation via the X network.
"The current way of working is contrary to the promises and values that I had in mind when creating the Movement. For this reason, I am resigning from all positions in the Movement," wrote Milatović.
He resigned a day after a dispute within PES over the appointment of members of the Board of Directors of the State Electric Industry (EPCG). On Friday, "Vijesti" published a correspondence from a WhatsApp group in which PES members of parliament are members Vladimir Bakrač i Ugleša Urošević requested that the Government change its decision and appoint EPCG to the Board of Directors Radovan Bijelić (PES) instead Bojana Savić (PES). Bijelić was the first proposal of the Government, but after civic activists questioned his work experience, Savić was proposed. In the end it was agreed that it would be Simo Jokic, as a compromise solution...
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Yesterday, Milatović wrote on the X network that the party promised that "competencies and personal integrity will be decisive factors in employment and promotion".
According to speculations from the top of the parties in power, Milatović's decision was expected, "because he cannot fight for the majority in PES, and this way it is easier for him to try to do something with others". It is also speculated that several more officials of that party who belong to "his stream in PES" will follow in his footsteps, as well as that Milatović is now counting on Bakrač and Urošević, as well as on the deputies who left PES earlier - Jevrosim Pejović i Radinka Ćinćur. In that case, Milatović would get a parliamentary club in the Assembly.
Last night Bakrač and Urošević did not answer the question of "Vijesti" whether they will leave PES.
It is speculated at the top of PES that Milatović probably has a plan for the party.
It was mentioned earlier that Milatović will found a new party, which will include former officials of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) - Danijela Đurović, Marko Kovač, Miomir Vojinović i Nebojsa Vuksanovic. There was also mention of the formation of a broader civil movement that had brought together several political subjects, and which Milatović would lead.
PES announced last night that Milatović's intention to "obstruct the work of the 44th Government of Montenegro and PES" has long been noticeable, which culminated in his leaving the party.
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In the press release, they also state that "it is good that Milatović realized that it was time to leave PES, so that society would not suffer because of personal dissatisfaction."
After the scandal with Serbian citizenship, the State Election Commission (SEC) rejected Spajić's candidacy for the presidential elections in February last year. Because of this, Milatović criticized Spajić and the party and apologized to the public.
After that, in April, the Main Committee (GO) of the party decided without Milatović that the party would go to the parliamentary elections independently, which Spajić advocated, and not in a wider coalition, which was Milatović's idea.
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.
He said that it is not good that the government has five vice-presidents and that it is not good that there is no Bosniak party in the government... He also pointed to the alarming situation in the diplomatic network, and in December he said that "the government is ignoring consultations about ambassadors". Consultations were held with Milatović this week, and Spajić was also present.
Milatović has not participated in the work of party bodies for a long time, and in his New Year's interview with "Vijesti" he said that there is both wheat and chaff in PES, but also that there is no PES without him and Spajić. When asked if he trusts Spajić, he replied that it is not important whether he trusts him, but it is important that the citizens trust him. He also said that Europe Now 2 can be realized in the "mandate of one government", but without canceling the contribution to the PIO Fund.
The relations between the founders of PES were further strained at the beginning of this year when Milatović returned three laws to the MPs for re-decision, and recently he criticized the non-extradition of a Turkish citizen. Biennial of Camgoza Turkey.
Đukanović: The creator of this situation like the others from the majority
Nikoleta Đukanović, a professor at the "Donja Gorica" University, told "Vijesta" that it was a matter of time when and which of the two leaders would step down from PES, although the bigger puzzle is what exactly was the final straw for Milatović - whether hesitancy to reconstruct the Government when it comes to the former Democratic Front, whether the possibility of the Bosniak party entering the Government, whether the appointment of an ambassador, appointment to the EPCG or some other interest.
"Although he claims otherwise in his explanation, moving away from EU values, partitocracy, nepotism and party employment can hardly be considered if we recall the outcome of the competition for members of his cabinet. If the situation in society is really as the president described it in the announcement, and if the expectations of the citizens who were promised different outcomes of 'democratic changes' were disappointed, it was logical that he felt responsibility for such a situation as the president of the state, and not as the vice president of the party." , she said.
As he adds, the question is how Milatović's resignation will further affect the split in the party, that is, the actions of other members who support Milatović's views, and whether it will affect the further support of all PES deputies to the Government.
"It is obvious that the further political positioning of Milatović is created on the basis of distancing himself from the current social and political situation, the creator of which was just as much as the other politicians of the majority, and populist statements about unconditional commitment to democratization and Europeanization".
He reminds that previously Milatović repeatedly denied the existence of factions in PES, saying that it was about democratic pluralism, and today he still claims that such phenomena have been noticeable since the very beginning of the party's functioning, "so the question arises when he was honest".
Nikolić: Now he has a new mission
Of the parliamentary parties, yesterday only the opposition DPS announced Milatović's resignation.
DPS MP Andrija Nikolić said that Milatović's resignation from all positions in PES "is not a surprise" and that after "finishing his mission in PES, he now has a new one".
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“There are no surprises. Expected scenario. Milatović realized his main obligation in PES when he lobbied for the Democratic Front to enter power and for Andrija Mandić to become the President of the Assembly. There he ended his mission in PES. And now he has a new one," wrote Nikolić on the X network.
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