The current government in Montenegro is taking the wrong path as far as democracy is concerned, and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and the parliamentary majority bear the greatest responsibility for that, said the President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović.
"I think it is my duty as president to say some things loud and clear, because that was not the case with previous presidents," said Milatović, guest on the show "Last Sunday" on A plus television.
Milatović said that his exit from the Europe Now Movement (PES) was the only right thing he could do.
"I didn't want to be part of that story anymore. I remained in the minority in the Europe Now Movement, as far as decision-making is concerned. My word was not heard enough then, and I believe that leaving the movement was the right move. I have always stood firm on the bumper of principles and always said what I thought. Whether these principles are bad is up to the citizens to judge. And the citizens are mine and it is mine to defend," he said.
The vision of a less partitocratic Podgorica has been betrayed
Referring to the upcoming local elections in Podgorica, Milatović said that Luka Rakčević is the only candidate for mayor who does not see Podgorica as a springboard.
"He fought for a better Podgorica from the opposition benches for more than ten years. Also, he will be the only one who will fight for a better Podgorica in the coming period. Apart from our list, choosing another option is an experiment, and Rakčević has the energy to present all the projects that are in our program", Milatović is convinced.
According to him, the vision of a less partitocratic Podgorica has been betrayed.
"That's why I decided to raise my voice and support the people from GP URA and the Movement for Podgorica by name and surname. Our list is a winner," he said.
When asked by a journalist whose idea it was to have his name in the name of the list, Milatović replied that it was a joint idea.
"People from URA and the Movement for Podgorica asked for active involvement in the election process. After all, it is my responsibility, above all to the idea I am fighting for. Have I been sinless in my actions so far? Of course I didn't. But when I see that I'm making a mistake, I try to correct that mistake. When I see that I'm in bad company, I get out of it," said Milatović.
From 2020, reduced political stability, but there is more democracy
Speaking about the parliamentary elections in 2020, Milatović said that until then Montenegro was governed in a quasi-authoritative manner.
"In 2020, we got power for the first time in democratic elections and we started to learn democracy. Changes did happen for the better. It is true that now there is reduced political stability, but that is why we have a greater democracy", assessed Milatović.
Milatović: I am a Montenegrin who speaks Serbian, the whole of Montenegro knows that
I am a Montenegrin who speaks Serbian, repeated Milatović.
"The whole of Montenegro knows this: my nationality is Montenegrin and I speak Serbian. On the other hand, I don't think that people who speak the Montenegrin language love this country less and vice versa, that someone expresses himself as a Serb, and therefore loves this country less. I just never bring these things to the fore, and if someone asks me, I answer without hesitation or hesitation. Everyone in this country has the right to say what language they speak," said Milatović.
Milatović's statement that he speaks the Serbian language previously caused outrage among a part of the public.
"I know the Constitution very well and it says that the official language is Montenegrin, and that the Serbian language is also in official use. When it comes to the national feeling and the language I speak, I was clear and transparent, compared to some politicians who tried to avoid the issue", Milatović assessed.
As he says, the question of language and national identity does not determine him, nor does it put him in the foreground.
"First of all, I am an economist, an accomplished man professionally, a husband, father, parent, a man who returned to Podgorica and Montenegro," concluded Milatović.
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