Parties participating in the local elections in Podgorica promise citizens a better, more functional and cleaner city, more parks and green areas, solving the problems of waste disposal and lack of water, and even things that are not within the competence of local governments - such as building hospitals.
Executive Director of the Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS) Marija Popović Kalezić indicates that the parties' promises are mostly unrealistic and in large part within the competence of the executive power, which is only one of the forms of misuse of state resources.
"They promise to spend other people's money from a position of power and promise to build infrastructure facilities for which they are not responsible," Popović Kalezić told "Vijesta".
29 coalitions and parties will participate in the elections in Podgorica on September 13. The lists were submitted by the coalition of the Europe Now Movement (PES) and the Democrats, the coalition "For a better Podgorica - Jakov Milatović" which consists of the Movement for Podgorica, the Civic Movement URA and the Movement for Changes, as well as "For the Future of Podgorica", which consists of the New Serbian Democracy, Democratic People's Party, Socialist People's Party, Rights and United Montenegro. The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Bosniak Party, and the Party of European Progress will participate in the elections Duško Marković, European Union (Social Democratic Party, Social Democrats and Liberal Party), Turn Movement, Forward Movement Vuk Kadić, Podgorica list Andrej Milović, Montenegrin Civic Action, Montenegrin European Party and the Podgorica Tenant Movement.
Popović Kalezić warns that the abuse of state resources is widespread and worrisome.
"Politicians promise various types of aid and subsidies through the campaign, without knowing whether there is a legal and sustainable budgetary basis for it. Are these the priorities on which our money should be spent?" asked Popović Kalezić.
DPS, for example, promises a new hospital, prestigious hotels, a panoramic cable car and a solar power plant, i.e. capital projects for which money is mainly provided from the state budget (capital budget) and for which the Government is usually in charge.
The DPS did not answer the question of "Vijesti" how they think they will implement these projects.
DPS was in power in Podgorica for more than 30 years, that is, until October 2022, when it was replaced by PES, a coalition gathered around the former Democratic Front, Demokrata and GP URA. Also, that party was in power at the state level for 30 years, until August 2020.
DPS, whose list holder in the elections in Podgorica is an MP Nermin Abdić, among other things, promises a free kindergarten and transportation in Podgorica, a fair park, as well as the completion of works on the wastewater treatment plant (collector).
They also announce the purchase of 40 buses, the reconstruction of bus stops, the construction of five underground and five above-ground garages, as well as the establishment of a museum of anti-fascism and the Budućnost Athletic Club.
"Smart city", containers with sensors, subsidies
In its program, the coalition "For the Future of Podgorica" announces the introduction of electronic administration and the "Smart City" program, the construction of new underground and above-ground garages, the reconstruction of unsafe bicycle paths, solving the issue of wastewater treatment, safer railroad crossings, the opening of the city theater... .
They also promise access to drinking water and a sewage network for every household in Podgorica, free kindergarten for children of single parents, continuation of work on the City Apartment project for young married couples, vulnerable tenants and people with disabilities, free legal aid for single parents and victims of domestic violence, free snack for all primary school students. They announce, among other things, the practice of co-financing the stay of pensioners in nursing homes.
Holder of the list Jelena Borovinić Bojović she said that she will fight for Podgorica to win the European Youth Capital candidacy.
The parties from that coalition - NSD, DNP and SNP form the government at the state level, with PES, Democrats, Bosniak Party and Albanian parties.
The PES-Democrat coalition announces that it will make Podgorica cleaner through the implementation of a more rigorous penal policy, especially for illegal dumping, through the construction of new underground containers with sensors that detect the level of filling, the acquisition of new garbage collection vehicles, and the launch of a plant for the treatment of waste tires and construction materials. ..
The holder of the list of that coalition Saša Mujović on Monday, in an interview with "Vijesti", he said, among other things, that he will insist on the acquisition of devices for detecting losses on the water supply network and that he will advocate that the issue of traffic be solved by creating a Strategy, and not by a partial approach.
The coalition "Jakov Milatović - For a better Podgorica" promised subsidies of 50 percent for the extended stay of students, the "Stan za sve" project, free transportation for pensioners, the purchase of 50 new buses, new promenades along the banks of Ribnica and Morača, three parks in Block 5 , nine underground garages, the opening of a cinema in KIC "Budo Tomović". Among other things, the valorization of the archaeological site of Duklja, the construction of the eastern tribune of the stadium under Gorica and the reconstruction of Jusovača were announced.
The European Union promises the renovation of the facades in Blocks V and VI, the construction of an innovation center for young people, the introduction of free transportation for pupils, students and pensioners. They also plan to, as they announced, double the amount of benefits for tenants in the capital.
The Bosniak Party said that Podgorica must be a clean city and that after the elections, the situation in the two large city companies (Vodovod and Čistoča) should be studied carefully and the necessary steps taken.
SEP promises to bring order to the public city transport system, financial support for the elderly, construction of a gerontological center, optical internet to every home, tax breaks and subsidies for business development, better health and social services... They also announced that they will do everything. "to start construction of a school, kindergarten and health center in City Quarter".
Uopret announces that it will reduce dependence on the use of cars through a significant increase in investment in public transport, improving the garbage collection system, increasing the number of recycling yards, and improving the collection system for special and hazardous waste.
Holder of the Reversal list Srdjan Peric he said in an interview with "Vijesti" that one of their priorities is "full determination to have professional people in the boards of directors of local public companies".
They also announced that the construction of bicycle infrastructure and the planned expansion of green areas with a minimum of 5.000 trees per year will be high on the list of Preokret's priorities.
Law changes, church building and reform of the whole society
The Naprijed movement is advocating for the implementation of projects from the "Green Cities" program related to the reconstruction of the water supply network, issues of clean air and the regulation of city traffic, as well as for a change in the law that would enable the direct election of the leaders of Podgorica, the capital and other municipalities.
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The Podgorica list promises to open a Center for oncology patients and that their priority task will be "completion of the construction of the City Theater, its interior decoration and arrangement of access to the theater".
The CGA announced a ban on the construction of multi-storey buildings in certain parts of Podgorica and buildings without a sufficient number of parking spaces, and the Montenegrin European Party of Novak Adžić announced the construction of the Montenegrin Cathedral.
The tenants' movement advocates urgent reform of all levels of society, "returning responsibility and moral values to professions that are of vital importance". They say that "doctors must be in hospitals, professors in classrooms, and politicians must finally understand that they are there to serve the people, not themselves".
Elections in Podgorica were called after the mandate of the local parliament was recently shortened by the votes of opposition councilors, the Movement for Podgorica close to Milatović, GP URA and one PzP councilwoman. The outgoing government in Podgorica consists of PES, a coalition gathered around the former DF, Demokrata and GP URA.
"Everyone presents themselves as arbitrators, not those who are at the service of the citizens"
Popović Kalezić believes that the character of local campaigns, which serve as a stage for articulating politics from the state level, has become the rule.
He says that the system of local self-government has long been ripe for serious reform, because today it represents a training ground for political competition of parties from the state level, and it has been reduced to communal services, which essentially turns local self-government into a communal administration.
He says that the Law on Local Elections and open lists at the local level are needed, as well as the immediate election of the mayor.
As he says, no one talks about direct democracy, everyone presents themselves as arbitrators, not those who are at the service of the citizens.
Citizens complain about corruption, public transport, health services
In the European Commission Study for 2023, Podgorica was among the ten cities in Europe where people are least satisfied with life, work situation, local government, health services and public transport.
Of the total number of citizens surveyed, 77 percent said they were satisfied with life in Podgorica, compared to 97 percent in Zurich and more than 90 percent in Copenhagen, Leipzig, Stockholm, Geneva...
As many as 82 percent of those questioned in Podgorica said that there is corruption in the local public administration of the city.
Only 24 percent of respondents in Podgorica use public transport, and when it comes to satisfaction with public transport in the city, only 37 percent of respondents answered yes.
Podgorica is also among the ten worst cities according to citizens' satisfaction with cultural facilities and green spaces in the city (55 percent said they were satisfied).
A small percentage of people are satisfied with health services in Podgorica, only 36 percent, compared to 93 percent satisfied in Zurich, 92 percent in Groningen, 91 percent in Antwerp and Geneva, 89 percent in Liège and 88 percent each in Luxembourg, Amsterdam, Oslo and Brussels.
Only 37 percent of respondents in Podgorica believe that most people in their town can be trusted, while 22 percent of them felt lonely in the previous four weeks.
Only 37 percent of the citizens of Podgorica declared that the city is a good place for LGBTIQ people to live.
In Podgorica, according to the study, 63 percent of citizens are satisfied with their personal work situation.
The results of the 2023 survey show that overall satisfaction in European cities has fallen compared to the level of satisfaction recorded in 2019, but remains high, with almost nine out of ten people declaring that they are satisfied with life in their city.
"In the midst of a general decline, the results confirm what was already observed in 2019, namely significant improvements in the perceived quality of life in cities in the Eastern Member States," the study says.
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