Milatović's list between a rock and a hard place: Marriage with DPS "harmful in the long run"

"Vijesti" interlocutors assessed that the list of Jakov Milatović and GP URA would not be more beneficial in the long term than a possible post-election coalition with DPS in the capital.

The figures show that they can only work together with the DPS, and for power with the parties in the government, four Milatović councilors are "enough"

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Leaders of the Za bolja Podgorica coalition, Photo: Luka Zekovic
Leaders of the Za bolja Podgorica coalition, Photo: Luka Zekovic
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

If the list "For a better Podgorica" Jakov Milatović and GP URA entered into negotiations with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) on the formation of a government in Podgorica, in such a combination they would take more positions in the executive power of the capital in the short term, but in the long term they would get nothing, because the DPS is far from the reformed party that would be desirable partner.

This was assessed by the interlocutors of "Vijesti", answering the question whether the list of Milatović and GP URA Dritan Abazović, which despite the weak result tas is on the scales for the formation of the government, "allows" to negotiate the formation of the government with the strongest opposition party and how much the agreement would cost them politically.

Civic activist Stefan Djukic he told "Vijesti" that he thinks that this coalition was in one way preparing the voters for that possibility, but that the big question is whether it would bring them more harm or benefit.

"In the short term, they would take more functions in the executive power of the capital, but in the long term, they would get nothing. That's it Dritan Abazovic already experienced. It's no different for DPS, who would be a partner in that, because they didn't get out of that unusual marriage either. Now the factors are a little different, but I doubt that the voters of both are ready to support it", Đukić assessed.

Executive Director of "Monitor" Milena Perović assessed for "Vijesti" that the coalition of Milatović and Abazović has not yet publicly ruled out negotiations with DPS after the elections, but neither have they ruled out negotiations in the other direction.

"It means that both ways are possible. At the same time, both options are not an easy decision for them, both because of these narratives that are still alive, and because the conflict between Milatović and (Milojka) Spajić greatly deepened, especially in the pre-election period. Hence, both directions can bring them power, but also cause damage in the context of principles. Admittedly, there was no lack of unprincipledness in general on the political scene, which is why other scenarios are not entirely impossible. As well as the one in Budva, lest an agreement be reached," Perović pointed out.

She said that these elections, however, showed that the biggest damage to the political parties that were in power after the fall of the DPS was in fact "the fact that they have shown in these four years that they too can be the DPS".

Who will form the government in the capital will depend on the list "For a better Podgorica" ​​backed by the head of state Jakov Milatović. According to the preliminary results, the list of which is the holder Luka Rakcevic, won six mandates.

DPS, which won 19 mandates, would, with the support of the European Union, the SEP of former Prime Minister Duško Marković and the "Za bolja Podgorica" ​​list, reach the minimum of 30 mandates needed to form a government.

Before the elections, Rakčević said in an interview with "Vijesti" that they do not allow anyone to scare them with DPS, least of all those who have not spoken a word against DPS for the last 30 years, as long as it was in power.

"We defeated the DPS and sent it to the margins of political life, and that will be confirmed on September 29, with the party's worst result in the Podgorica elections," said Rakčević at the time.

DPS list holder Nermin Abdić told "Vijesti" before the elections that "the seat is not and will not be before the interests of the citizens", that they strive for development, that Podgorica should be an example and that whoever wants it, will be their partner.

DPS leaders the night before last after the election
DPS leaders the night before last after the electionphoto: Boris Pejović

Answering the question of whether the DPS is really reformed, Đukić said that the DPS cannot be called reformed as long as it has a problem to truly face the past, "as long as they remain silent on all the crime and corruption that characterized the society before."

"If it's for them Novović Sky prosecutor, if they are still on the side Medenice, Veljovića, Lazovića and others, then it doesn't matter if he leads that party Milo Djukanovic or Danijel Zivkovic. To say that there are differences would be the most ordinary illusion", Đukić assessed.

Perović assessed that it was clear that the DPS had not been reformed, but it was even less so when Abazović formed a minority government with the parliamentary support of that party.

Abazović himself and his URA this time cannot enable DPS to return to power in Podgorica, but only the coalition of URA, Milatović's Movement for Podgorica and Movement for Change (PZP), which together won six mandates, exactly as many as DPS and missing in case the European Union and the party join it Duško Marković. The same coalition can also do it in the opposite direction, where the parties in power lack three mandates, and where it might be Milatović's Movement for Podgorica itself, for example," said Perović.

According to the preliminary results, the European Union has three mandates, and Marković's Party of European Progress has two.

She pointed out that the problem is that such an association has already produced extraordinary elections in Podgorica.

Perović said that at the moment there is certainly not one tip in the balance, that is, it is not only Milatović's and Abazović's coalition, but several political subjects, both in one direction and in the other.

"These combinatorics, however, are not talked about, because on the one hand, these Podgorica elections are perceived as a kind of referendum, while the anti-depees narrative, that is, the narrative of August 30, is still strong," Perović pointed out.

On election night, the holder of the list "For the future of Podgorica" Jelena Borovinić Bojović announced that she will invite Mujović and Rakčević to a conversation, adding that her goal is a strong and stable Podgorica. Leader of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knezevic was even more specific:

"It (the DPS result) should be a warning to everyone who swears by that majority and the necessity of dismantling the DPS and that, as of tonight, both Prime Minister Spajić and President Milatović, together with their colleague Mandić, with me and everyone who won the election on August 30 - sit down, hold talks, in order to trace a path that will not mean the return of DPS to power in any form, in any city".

Leader of PES Milojko Spajic he said, answering the journalist's question, whether he would negotiate with Milatović and GP URA on the formation of the government, that the party bodies of PES and Democrats would decide on this separately, and then agree on a common position.

Mujović previously said that the only coalition that is impossible "is with the DPS".

"I also believe that those who until now have been in power in Podgorica have made life miserable Oliveri Injac they don't deserve to be partners and if I were to ask myself, I would cross them right away", said Mujović.

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