Montenegro must focus on closing the negotiation chapters, in order to become a member of the European Union (EU) by the end of the mandate of the 44th Government, assessed Prime Minister Milojko Spajić.
In an interview with the MINA Agency, Spajić said that the Government is recognized in the international community, but also among Montenegrin citizens, as a predictable and stable partner, as well as that there were enough political combinatorics in Montenegro, and that now is the time for results.
"For the first time in a long time, we have the opportunity to close a chapter. We have to take advantage of the period until the New Year and the Hungarian presidency of the European Union (EU), we have to be very focused on that," Spajić pointed out.
He emphasized that the executive power must use the remaining mandate so that the 44th Government will be the one to introduce Montenegro into the EU, raise the standard of Montenegrin citizens to the level of the Union average and raise the rule of law to an enviable level.
As Spajić stated, broad parliamentary support is needed for the Government's goals, which they know are ambitious.
"You practically need a two-thirds majority in the parliament, and that requires some political compromises and perhaps a larger number of ministries," Spajić added.
Asked about the criticism regarding the entry of the parties of the former Democratic Front (DF) into the executive power, he said that the Government is recognized in the international community, but also among Montenegrin citizens, as a predictable and stable partner.
"And that what we say comes true in the end. We signed a coalition agreement, which was explicit about what our foreign policy is and what our priorities are," emphasized Spajić.
The priorities, as he pointed out, are the entry of Montenegro into the EU, increasing the standards of citizens and improving the rule of law.
Spajić assessed that they have excellent results in all three categories.
"As far as the EU is concerned, we won the Report on the Fulfillment of Temporary Benchmarks (IBAR). We are the first country to receive the IBAR according to the new methodology", Spajić said, adding that Montenegro will also join the Single Payment Area in Euros (SEPA). which is a big deal for the Montenegrin economy.
He said that when it comes to the rule of law, IBAR has shown that great progress has been made in that area. "We also have an increase in citizens' standards, in October we will have the program Evropa sad 2", Spajić added.
He points out that the things that were announced a year ago are being implemented.
"The reconstruction was also announced a year ago. Our principles and what we signed in the coalition agreement will remain until the end," said Spajić.
"A very good period behind us"
Asked how he evaluates the performance of his Cabinet, in the period from when he was elected prime minister until today, he said that they had a very good period behind them.
"In nine months, we received IBAR, and Montenegro is progressing on its European path faster than ever. You also heard from our friends from the EU that Montenegro has done more in six months than it did in six years before that," Spajić said. .
He believes that this is a good sign for the future and says that the Government will continue to work at this pace, in order to achieve one of the most important goals - joining the EU.
Spajić said that the parliamentary majority functions very well, that it passed many important laws, and that the relationship between the government and the parliament is much better than before.
"We are focused on essential reforms, as you can see. We don't talk much, but I think we do a lot," said Spajić.
Spajić, answering the question whether it was necessary for his Cabinet to have so many portfolios, said that they see criticism from the non-governmental sector and the opposition and that it is true that this Government has a relatively large number of members.
However, as he said, everyone forgets to mention that the current executive has almost two-thirds support in the Assembly.
Spajić said that, if European progress reports are taken into account, Montenegro is recognized as a country with a lack of administrative capacity and a lack of staff in the state administration.
As he stated, in a technical sense, this is one of the biggest problems and obstacles for the further progress of Montenegro.
"That diffusion, that is, the assignment to a larger number of politically responsible persons, is precisely an attempt to reduce the gap between political responsibility and technical work," Spajić said.
He announced that he will reevaluate the Government every six months and see who has done well and who has done poorly.
"You had, especially during the time of the Democratic Party of Socialists, as well as some other governments, the case of ministers or other high-ranking politicians "jumping" from one ministry to another, regardless of how they worked," said Spajić and added that is no longer the case.
"We now have political responsibility for all ministers, they and their state secretaries will have to show much more work, effort, seriousness, responsibility, and those who do not work well can count on being replaced," said Spajić.
Mujović is one of the candidates for the list holder in the elections in Podgorica
Answering the question whether the Europe Now Movement (PES) has made a decision on how it will participate in the elections in Podgorica scheduled for September 29, Spajić said that he considers PES to be a party that is recognized for its program, i.e. concrete results and concrete offer to citizens above all.
"Now the most important thing is to consider what kind of program the citizens of Podgorica expect from us", Spajić added.
He believes that their Podgorica team, led by Saša Mujović, will come up with the best program and model of performance in the Podgorica elections.
Asked if this means that Mujović will be the list holder, Spajić said that he is the president of the Podgorica board of PES and one of the candidates for the list holder of that party.
"He is a great person, who has produced fantastic results in his department. He has my full support, full trust, and I can't wait to see what program Podgorica will vote for in the elections in September," said Spajić.
Answering the question of what kind of result they expect in the capital, if the election results of PES in the local elections in Budva and Andrijevica are taken into account, he said that the Podgorica team will do its best to offer the best program to the citizens of Podgorica, which, as expects to vote for PES in the largest number.
When asked if they negotiated with some parties about a possible coalition appearance in the local elections in Podgorica, Spajić answered in the negative.
Asked if he rules out the possibility of a pre-election coalition with the parties of the former DF, he said that there was a lot of false information in the past and that he would not look back on it.
Spajić repeated that the most important thing is what Mujović and his team present as the PES program.
"We will speak first at the Presidency, then at the Main Board, and I am convinced that it will be a winning program, which the citizens will welcome, as well as that PES will show a dominant position and win the elections in Podgorica," said Spajić.
He added that he believes that after the elections in Podgorica, the head of the capital will again be a representative of PES.
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