If there is no additional delay in the announcement of the final results of the recent elections in Podgorica, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) should, most likely, next week at the session of its presidency discuss the definition of the platform for negotiations on the formation of the government in the capital, as well as the determination of the team that will participate in it conversations, "Vijesti" learned unofficially.
The "Vijesti" source from the top of that party claims that she has not yet officially talked to any political actor because she is waiting for the final outcome of the vote, and that informal contacts always exist, because, as he said, everyone knows each other.
That interlocutor repeated the earlier stated position of DPS that they will negotiate with all political entities that are not part of the Government, including the list "For a better Podgorica" supported by the head of state Jakov Milatovic. He claims that the formation of a minority government with the support of DPS will not be on the table during the talks and that this model is "out of the question". When asked whether they will insist that the holder of the DPS list Nermin Abdić will be the mayor of Podgorica, the source did not answer directly: "Nothing about that for now".
"We believe that it is possible to talk to everyone who is not in the Government and the parliamentary majority. We will see what Milatović's answer will be. The result of the election is clear. We plan for the negotiations to be effective, and we will not allow a stalemate," he said.
According to the preliminary results, in the elections held on September 29, DPS won 19 mandates in the city parliament, the coalition of the Europe Now Movement (PES) and the Democrats won 14, the alliance "For the Future of Podgorica" 13, the list "Za bolja Podgorica" six, the European Union three, and Reversal and the Party of European Progress (SEP) with two each.
Bearing in mind that the Assembly of the Capital City has 59 councilors, it is necessary to provide the support of at least 30 of them to constitute the government. The ruling parties from the state level and the opposition DPS can reach that number only through an alliance with the list backed by Milatović, which is made up of his close Movement for Podgorica (PzPG), Citizens' Movement (GP) URA and Movement for Change.
The "Vijesti" source from the PES-Democrats coalition claims that one of the ideas mentioned in that alliance is to mutually define with the "For the Future of Podgorica" list to whom the positions of mayor and head of the city assembly should belong, and then start negotiations from that position. .
"Those two functions should be divided according to democratic principles, that is, according to the support received in the elections. And then it should be said: here you go, and if you don't want to - go with DPS. All other issues are open for discussion, but not these two positions", said the interlocutor, adding that there were no contacts with other parties/alliances regarding the constitution of the government in the capital.
Another source from the Prime Minister's coalition of parties Milojko Spajić (PES) and the Deputy Prime Minister Alekse Bečić (Democrat) says that the democratic logic is to divide leading positions according to the percentage of mandates obtained, but that this issue is "neither concreted nor formalized".
"Milatović and GP URA overthrew the government in Podgorica with some plan, and now we are all waiting for them to make it known... If the mantra that he (the holder of the 'For a better Podgorica' list) stops Luka) Rakčević the best candidate for mayor, it is, to begin with, a signal that they are returning to reality", assesses that interlocutor, reminding that the actors of the state government said that they will not cooperate with the DPS in Podgorica.
When asked what will happen if Milatović does not go with either the ruling parties or the DPS, that source answers that in that case a new exit to the polls is the most likely.
On Wednesday, Spajić said at RTCG that cooperation with the group supported by Milatović is possible, but "on clear principles".
"There are two or three democratic principles that everyone should adhere to in politics - that by the number of votes you get the responsibility that the citizens have given you, and to avoid obstructions in the future. Podgorica should not be held hostage by the central government, but it is very important that the central government and the capital are on the same page," he said, adding that he is the holder of the list of the PES-Democrat coalition and the Minister of Energy. Saša Mujović "the best candidate for mayor".
Messages similar to those communicated to "Vijesta" from the coalition PES-Democrats also come from the list "For the future of Podgorica", which is led by a part of the parties of the former Democratic Front (DF). A source from that coalition unofficially told "Vijesti" that during the distribution of key positions, "democratic principles should be respected" and that "someone who has two mandates" cannot be mayor or head of the municipal council. The interlocutor alluded to Rakčević, whose GP URA, as part of the "For a better Podgorica" list, won two seats in the city parliament.
"Our idea is a coalition with partners from the Government and cooperation with Milatović. We want an agreement, and Milatović is on the move," said the source, claiming that she is the holder of the former DF's list. Jelena Borovinić Bojović had communication with Mujović, but Rakčević, whom she invited for an interview at the same time on election night, has not yet responded.
One of the leaders of the former DF Milan Knezevic, said the night before last in the show "Nachisto" on "Vijesti" Television that he is ready to talk with Milatović and the leader of GP URA Dritan Abazović "no blackmail". He said that GP URA cannot come forward with a request for Rakčević to be mayor, and that he is not ready to support that idea.
Asked what he will do if Milatović leaves with the DPS, Knežević replied that they have a "ready solution".
"And it will be clear and adequate in the direction of defending what were the results of the presidential elections", he stated.
"Vijesti" could not get an answer from the officials of the "Za bolja Podgorica" list to the question of what their post-election plans are, that is, their negotiation strategy. The interlocutor from that coalition only said that so far no one has called them for talks.
Milatović and GP URA overthrew the government in Podgorica with some plan, and now we are all waiting for them to announce it... If the mantra that Rakčević is the best candidate for mayor ends, it is, to begin with, a signal that they are returning to reality," he said. a source from the PES-Democrats coalition
GP URA functionary Ana Novaković Đurović, said last week on the show "Načisto" that, when their coalition receives an invitation for negotiations, they will transparently say which platform they are going with, and that "the platform is the program and Rakčević is the mayor".
If the PES-Democrats alliance and the coalition around the former DF secured the support of the "For a better Podgorica" list, they would have 33 seats in the local parliament. On the other hand, DPS with the support of the European Union, SEP of the former prime minister Duško Marković and the list "For a better Podgorica" reached the minimum necessary for the formation of the government.
The ruling parties can establish an administration in Podgorica even without the votes of the GP URA, and with the support of four councilors from the PzPG close to Milatović. In that case, they would have 31 mandates in the Podgorica parliament. On the other hand, DPS and traditional partners would not be able to get to power if GP URA and Milatović split. In that scenario, they would lack two or four "hands" in the Assembly of the Capital City.
The final results of the Podgorica elections are awaited due to the announced appeals of the "Forward" Movement to the Constitutional Court due to alleged irregularities at the polling stations.
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