If the Europe Now Movement (PES) wins the individual best result in the upcoming elections in Budva, I will respond to the trust of the citizens and will be the president of that municipality if it is a joint proposal.
This is what the main negotiator with the EU and the holder of the PES list in the elections in Budva said in an interview with "Vijesta". Predrag Zenović.
Asked if PES and he are ready to talk with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the "Budva naš grad" list after the elections scheduled for May 26, which is led by the president of the local parliament Nikola Jovanovic, Zenović replied that both groups exercised power, and that "political and individual acceptability" will be assessed "according to that balance, that is, their relationship to those effects."
Zenović, among other things, said that there is a "strong will" on the part of the EU member states for Montenegro to receive a Report on the Fulfillment of Interim Benchmarks (IBAR). In this context, he said that the election of the head of the Supreme Court would be very important for obtaining IBAR.
Why did you accept the invitation of PES and its leader Mr. Milojko Spajić to lead the list of that party in the upcoming elections in Budva?
Budva is my city, where my family, my friends, my fellow citizens who appreciate me, with whom I have worked on projects of local public interest, have lived for centuries. The city I love. I believe that the list of Movement Europe now - "Budva has a chance", an offer that affirms the vision of Budva as a European, creative and green city, that Budva must get a development policy after many years and finally start big infrastructure projects. I support this movement, at the suggestion of the minister (Maida) Gorcevic, received without any party affiliation and with the trust given to me by PES for the process of European integration, I now reciprocate with trust for the European path of Budva, for a new chance for this city, leading the list of this movement. After all, for some idea of the common good, no matter what and how much your contribution is, one has to get out of the comfort zone.
Do you intend to join the party Mr. Spajić?
I am aware that part of the public, especially political ones, equates this political act of mine with party affiliation. Political parties are a democratic asset, an expression of social pluralism and generators of social movements, and I don't think it's acceptable to blame people for party engagement, even change if it comes from conviction. That is why I highly appreciate the work that certain parties and people in parties have in the social emancipation of the state and society. I understand the power they have and that's why I'm entering into an arrangement that can bring betterment for the local community where I come from and for the city, which is one of the generators of the economic potential of this country. Budva needs a stable, responsible, efficient and decriminalized local government.
I do not exclude my future party affiliation, that is the right of every citizen, but I am not a person who has party political ambitions and I do not see myself in the party. In these Budva elections, the Europe Now movement has opened space for Nova Budva, the original local political entity, but also for all of us free citizens who do not have a party profile. These are the three constituents of our list: Europe now, New Budva and free citizens. I think it is a good and strong message for all citizens of Budva.
How do you see the political situation in Budva since the change of government at the state level in 2020?
In its recent history, Budva had two eras of dominance by two political concepts, until 2015 it brought with it abuses and certain individuals who were part of a corrupt criminal group, and after 2015 several formations of the city administration which, and after the consolidation of the city budget, forgot the development concept of the city. In addition, after the arrest of Mr. (Mila) Božović, the absolute power of his administration turned into a political blockade and two currents with serious mutual accusations. Unfortunately, all those processes cost the citizens of Budva the most.
If PES achieves a result in the elections, thanks to which it will be in a position to govern Budva, will you agree to be the leader of that municipality?
I don't think this is a race for office, if I did, I wouldn't be in it. This is the candidacy of different conceptions of the development of the municipality. The goal is to direct energy and capacities. The president of the municipality can also be a candidate outside of any election list. The bottom line is to find the best one. And we will insist on the process of choosing the best candidate. However, if the Europa Movement now wins the individual best result, I will respond to the citizens' trust and I will be the president of the Municipality of Budva if it is a joint proposal. I repeat, the essence of my engagement is to support the political group that will be the guarantor of the new development concept of the city and that the management of the city will be placed on new foundations and people.
With whom does PES, that is, the list you lead, intend to discuss cooperation after the elections in Budva? Are you ready to talk to DPS and the newspaper "Budva naš grad", led by the president of the local parliament, Nikola Jovanović?
The post-election form of government should be based on the principles of the development concept of the city and responsible and functional administration. Both groups exercised power, so political and individual acceptability will be assessed according to that balance, that is, their relationship to those effects.
Even before it was officially announced that you will be at the head of the PES list, a dirty campaign started on social networks, in which, among other things, you are accused of being close to the president of the Budva municipality, Mr. Božović, whom the Special Prosecutor's Office charges with creating a criminal organization and drug smuggling. How do you respond to these accusations?
The dirty and perfidious campaign based on lies and constructions goes on several fronts and narratives, hidden behind the anonymity of those who plead to lead the city and be the first in society, not on the margins where they only belong. However, it does not only speak about the human and moral reach of the author, but also about the network of large interests who fear the power of the Europe Now Movement and who think that by slandering others, without any foundation, they can divert attention from their intentions.
In addition to the fact that I have known the Božović family for a long time, with Mr. Božović and his cabinet, as the president of the Council for Culture, I had impeccable cooperation and always one theme: ideas for a better and more beautiful city, for the cultural life of the city of Budva. I neither can nor want to hide that professional cooperation and human relationship, on the contrary, I remember them fondly.
Don't you think that your engagement in connection with the Budva elections will be reflected in the position of chief negotiator, to which you were appointed at the end of last year?
As I did until these local elections, I am fully committed to the negotiation process and that will not change during this unprecedentedly short campaign.
Do you expect Montenegro to receive IBAR for chapters 23 and 24 in June?
The general impression, based on the signals we receive on the diplomatic level, is that there is a strong will on the part of the EU member states for the candidacy of IBAR. We appreciate that it is of crucial importance that by the end of April and the beginning of May, all political and social actors, together with the Government of Montenegro, continue with diplomatic activity in all fields, and every day we inform the member states in detail about the specific activities that we carry out in order to fulfill the remaining temporary standards.
Which of the most important obligations from the temporary benchmarks were not realized by the end of April, by which time the Government had agreed with the European Commission to realize them? Who is responsible for not doing this?
I will remind you that in the period of the last two months, a set of systemic laws in the field of justice and the fight against corruption was sent for opinion to the European Commission, and then to the Venice Commission, and the draft of the new Justice Reform Strategy for the period 2024-2027, the Strategy for the fight against corruption for the period 2024-2028, the draft Law on Amendments to the Criminal Procedure Code, as well as the draft Law on Lobbying. The package of media laws prepared by the Ministry of Culture and Media, i.e. the Law on Audio-Visual Media Services, the Law on Media and the Law on Public Media Service of Montenegro, was sent to the European Commission for its opinion. Important steps have been taken in Chapter 24 in the area of borders, migration and visa regime.
In communication with the EC, we established that even after the activities planned until the end of April, certain elements of certain temporary standards from Chapter 23 will, for objective reasons, remain partially unfulfilled and transferred into final ones, but with the commitment of Montenegrin institutions to create road maps and concrete steps that these benchmarks are met in the shortest possible time. At issue are the amendment of the Constitution in the part that refers to the role of the Minister of Justice in the Judicial Council, the amendment of the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns and the appointment of the President of the Supreme Court. Essentially, it is important to emphasize that Montenegro has shown the political will to respond to every temporary measure from Chapters 23 and 24, and that is why I have no doubt that it will have the support of the European Commission for the important reform step it has taken.
In addition to the fact that I have known the Božović family for a long time, with Mr. Božović and his cabinet, as the president of the Council for Culture, I had impeccable cooperation and always one theme: ideas for a better and more beautiful city, for the cultural life of the city of Budva. I neither can, nor do I want to hide that professional cooperation and human relationship, on the contrary, I remember them fondly," said Zenović.
Could the failure of the eighth advertisement for the election of the President of the Supreme Court jeopardize the obtaining of IBAR?
The election of the President of the Supreme Court is part of one of the criteria for chapter 23, and its fulfillment would be very important for obtaining a positive IBAR. Joining a part of the professional public, without any desire to exert an inadmissible influence on this branch of government and this institution, I believe that by electing the president of the Supreme Court, this institution would significantly contribute to our European path and rounding off the situation in Chapter 23.
The overly broad amendments threaten the deadlines we have agreed with the EU
Since the Government, according to the draft plan for the accession of Montenegro to the EU, intends to complete most of the obligations within the EU agenda in the next year and a half, what can you do as the main negotiator to ensure that the laws that are changed are not changed hastily, so that long-term damage is not caused ?
MPs are holders of a free mandate and an expression of the sovereignty of the citizens of Montenegro. Therefore, no one, not even the main negotiator, can take that right away from them. However, MPs are free to find a modality that speeds up the process and to support that modality as legitimate. Too broad an amendment action can burden the system and the Commission and thus call into question the deadlines that we have identified as the path to IBAR. The Ministry of European Affairs is always ready to provide support in this process, to consult the Commission, to help in the preparation of compliance tables, but we also have several expert solutions that we will present to the Assembly.
Jovanović and others removed us from the "Budva - European Capital of Culture" project
Why didn't you speak up in the fall after Budva lost the battle to become the "European Capital of Culture", even though you were practically the main man who led the campaign for that project?
The European Capital of Culture is one of the biggest projects in Budva's recent history. The idea was to create a concept for the revival and development of Budva. At the very end of the process, my team and I were removed from the program of the visit of the expert panel and the defense in Brussels, by order of the President of the Assembly and other persons, and the application book, which was prepared by experts from the Municipality, with our instructions, was taken over in violation of their copyright . We informed the President of Montenegro, the then Prime Minister and the Ministry of Culture about all this, stating that we cannot be responsible for the further course of the candidacy.
Regardless of the bitter residue of that experience, I believe that Budva has a chance for change. At that time, believe me, I had no idea that I would be the main negotiator with the European Union and that I would get a new chance for the European ideals of this society. In that project, you could see what Budva could be if it were to break free from the clutches of unsustainable tourism and big capital and become a city on a human scale. I am sure that Budva deserves a new chance.
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