Budva deserves to be governed by someone who will not allow orders to be whispered behind closed doors and will not bow down to corrupt interests, said Dragana Kažanegra Stanišić, the holder of the list of the coalition consisting of Democrats and Europe Now.
She said in an interview with "Vijesta" that Budva was led for a long time by men, often unable to stand up to crime, who either bowed their heads or ended up with their hands tied behind their backs.
"The city has seen everything, but it has never had the opportunity to be led by a woman - uncorrupted, fearless, completely independent. I am here to serve the citizens of Budva, not myself," said Kažanegra Stanišić.
He says that their partners will never be those who arrested former municipal officials from Democratic Montenegro, Dragan Krapović and Krsto Radović, "nor those who brutally beat citizens, but neither those who are stars of the virtual world and the Sky application."
She announced that if her list wins, she will transform the administration and that her signature will "be a stamp on every dismissal that is deserved".
New elections in Budva are scheduled for November 17, because after the extraordinary elections in May 2024, none of the two political camps created by the split of the former single coalition DF that won the most votes - the list "For the future of Budva" led by Mladen Mikijelj and "Budva nas grad" headed by Nikola Jovanović, failed to secure the majority of 17 councilors needed to constitute the government.
What does the list you lead offer the citizens as a vision of a better Budva?
My vision is for the citizens of Budva to gather around a new idea - Budva as a common home for all of us, regardless of where we come from and how long we have lived in it, a home that we will not share or sell for someone else's interests. Consistency is a key prerequisite in order to start realizing any idea, there are few of us who would be divided on any basis. It is necessary to strive for unification in good faith and with the intention that together we can make our city a more dignified place for all of us to live. The basic prerequisite in order to free ourselves from the shackles of the past is that every door of this city is firmly locked in front of the people who went down in the history of Budva as robbers, greedy people and those who divided our city into "ours" and "theirs". No dubious person, no man whose interests in the past have destroyed the unity of this city, will no longer have the opportunity to impose his will. My door to them will be closed forever.
Who do you see as a future partner in the formation of the government? Will you talk to the DPS and which of the two factions of the former DF is programmatically closer to you, the list led by Mladen Mikijelj or Nikola Jovanović?
Our partners will certainly not be the ones who arrested Dragan Krapović and Krsto Radović, nor those who brutally beat up the honest citizens of Budva in an attempt to illegally seize power in Budva. Anyone who was on the side of those who were beaten, robbed and politically arrested should seriously ask themselves where their integrity and face has disappeared, because it is precisely those who are now announcing coalitions with the DPS.
We will never cooperate with those who stole, kidnapped, beat, followed, eavesdropped, and extorted money to such an extent that even an ordinary tobacconist could not operate without racketeering. We will not be with those who devastated the area, created the term "Budvanization", and who openly announced cooperation with DPS - even if they had fallen out of my sight, I would have rejected such partners.
Also, our partners will not be those who brought in foreign investors as a cover for their personal interests and dirty capital, people connected to the former regime who privatized everything that could be "written on themselves". We will work even less with those who are the main stars of the virtual world and Sky applications, who hid behind false identities - Budva must never again be a place with code names, Budva is not a code, nor a territory divided between the interests of those for whom crime is an ideology, and honesty unknown.
Our doors are also closed to those who, instead of being builders, served only as concrete pavers and asphalted every street in honor of usurped state property with their private enterprise, and were charged from the budget of all citizens. Budva will be a partner only to those who have a clean face and a clear goal: for Budva to be a city of equal opportunities for all its citizens, a city of reconciled people, and not the scene of the interests of the powerful and criminals and brawlers.
What kind of election result do you expect, bearing in mind that compared to the May elections, when you ran independently and won the support of 1.200 citizens, i.e. 4 mandates, you are now going into a coalition with PES, which won two councilor mandates in the May elections?
We are the only list in these elections that brings a new concept, new energy and a new face - a woman as the leader of Budva. While all other lists performed in the old arrangements, with the same holders, we offered a real change. Our coalition performance is not just a combination of political programs - it is a clear message that Budva no longer needs quarrels and divisions, but rather cooperation, compromise and peace. It's time for Budva to get a leader who will unite it, and women are the ones who bring them together, who make peace, who build and ennoble because peace and harmony are the foundation of all development, coexistence and a dignified life.
For a long time, Budva was ruled by men, often unable to stand up to crime, men who either bowed their heads or ended up with their hands tied behind their backs. Criminals gave orders, and these same leaders listened, forgetting the interests of the citizens and the honor of the city. But times have changed. This city has seen it all, but never had the chance to be led by a woman - uncorrupted, fearless, completely independent. I believe that November 17 is the day when that will change, when Budva will say "yes" to true change and give a chance to those who will lead the city with integrity and a firm hand.
I don't have tails from the past, I don't owe anyone anything, I'm a well-rounded person with family and professional life, I don't have construction companies or any connection with the criminal milieu and persons connected with them. I can look everyone in the eye and bravely confront all the challenges and plagues that beset and burden our city and the people in it.
The city deserves someone who won't allow orders to be whispered behind closed doors, who won't bow down to corrupt interests, who won't let criminals shape their decisions. I am here to serve the citizens of Budva, not myself; to be a leader who can look everyone in the eye and not shy away from any challenge that threatens us.
Do you expect that the departure of Đorđe Zenović from Democratic Montenegro, who led the list in the May elections, will affect your election results. Will he take a certain number of votes from your party?
In this particular case, there is a clear difference in the perception of the political future between our two political actors. We are clearly and unequivocally telling the citizens that we will not exercise power with those whose politics we defeated together in 2016, because our city and society are still significantly suffering from the consequences of that and such politics. Those who followed in the footsteps of our predecessors should think carefully before entering into an agreement with them. Let them remember the tear gas, arrests, beatings and actions in which we, the citizens of Budva, were prey to Lazović's and Marović's teams. Before they sell the people for power, let them ask themselves if their conscience will follow them longer than they expected.
What are the first steps your coalition will take if it takes over management of Budva?
The first steps after the formation of the executive power is the transformation of the administration of this city. Those who have managed it until now must understand that it exists to serve its citizens, not privileged persons. That public service is just that - a service, not an opportunity for personal enrichment and abuse of official position. The citizens of Budva are the only ones who will benefit from their municipality. No exceptions for the few, no privileges, equal for all. My signature will seal any dismissal that is deserved. Anyone who used the position for personal and not public good will not have a place in this administration. I won't hesitate and I won't make exceptions.
We have a big challenge ahead of us. I will clean Budva and prepare it for the new season, because our city must be clean and worthy of all those who live in it and those who visit it. This city deserves to live freely, without the shadows of the past that have tarnished its reputation.
Budva is facing major problems from communal disorder to urban chaos. Do you see a solution?
There are no difficult tasks for serious local administration, for people freed from the restraints and influence of criminal, construction-investor lobbies and other power centers, people who are ready to work only and only in the interest of their city. There are clear procedures and obligations that must be implemented in accordance with the law and applicable regulations. By good management of human resources and household attitude towards the exercise of power, we can introduce order and discipline in all aspects of management. Only arrogance, arrogance, greed, improvisation and ignorance led us into this kind of chaos. We suffer the consequences and will feel them for a long time, but it is always the right time to move on, to change the environment in which we live with a clear plan and good intentions. I believe that the citizens recognized the moment and that on November 17, Budva chooses itself, chooses solidarity, togetherness, decency and progress.
I will advocate for the resolution of the issue of Saint Stephen
You were a member of the Council of the Sveti Stefan Local Community, which demanded the opening of the city-hotel Sveti Stefan. What are you going to do about it?
Civic activism is something through which I, together with my fellow citizens, made a great contribution to the community in which I live. I actively participated in all segments of raising citizens' awareness about the importance of preserving the living space, preserving and valorizing the serious cultural-historical heritage and natural wealth of our region. The issue of Saint Stephen is something that I started with a few people and the same ideas that we promoted then and now I advocate. From the position of the President of the Municipality, I will advocate even more strongly for these and many other issues that weigh on us, the consequences of which we suffer, because I will have, in addition to the moral and institutional obligation to represent the interests of our citizens only, to take care of the image and integrity of every part of our municipality and of all its citizens. For me, my city, Budva, is above political or any other ideology. I feel an obligation and responsibility to pay back the debt to the city where I grew up and which gave me many beautiful things in the best possible way and to make my ancestors proud whose shadows I only worship in my life. So let generations judge the deeds.
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