Judging by the political campaign of the key players, there seems to be only one question before the voters of Budva in the extraordinary elections - are you in favor of the Democratic Party of Socialists returning to the head of the city after eight years or not.
Promises such as those about the construction of new schools and kindergartens, promenades, cultural centers, sports fields, hospitals, up to the increase of social assistance, the resolution of urban and communal chaos, the development of culture and sports made by almost all representatives of political parties, coalitions and groups of citizens, which are in the election race, they fell into the background compared to the story of the return of the "infamous" DPS.
And precisely such a narrative is key in the messages of the two conflicting blocs, created by the collapse of the former single Democratic Front - the coalition "For the future of Budva - Budva must move forward" led by Mladen Mikijelj and the political group "Budva our city" of which he is the leader Nikola Jovanovic.
The messages of the candidates for future councilors in the Budva parliament about what their list will do if they are part of the local government drown out the political conflict and the mutual accusations of Mikijel's and Jovanović's streams of "collusion with the DPS".
As in debates in the media, so much more strongly on social networks, where a brutal, inappropriate and down-to-earth war of bots is being waged between the two currents, each other's connections and secret meetings with representatives of the DPS, and the "safe" conclusion of a coalition with the party whose former Vice-President Svetozar Matović has been "brightening and dressing" Budva for years.
Mikijelj, both in the campaign for May and for the elections on Sunday, was always explicit that he would never seek a coalition or support for the formation of the government from the DPS, nor from the "satellite", referring to the SDP with which Jovanović has close relations.
And the leaders of the New Serbian Democracy Andrija Mandic and the Democratic People's Party Milan Knezevic from Budva in recent days during the campaign clearly called on citizens not to vote for those who will return the DPS, alluding to Jovanović's "Budva our city", with messages that Budva should not be hijacked by the DPS again. Mikijelj calls for reconciliation, accusing Jovanovic of having divided the people of Budva, the godfather's relatives, and that the city urgently needs a stable government.
On the other hand, during the campaign, Jovanović always denied statements in which Mikijelj's block accused him of having already concluded a coalition with DPS, calling such accusations political matchmaking. Jovanović has never hidden that he sees himself as a political partner in the future government Petar Odžić, leader of the European Union list.
As one of the "key pieces of evidence" that Jovanović still thinks he should ask the DPS for support for the formation of the government, political opponents see his guest appearance on the show "Reflektor" on Television Vijesti after the May elections, when he said that he would also invite the DPS to the negotiations. . Then the city found itself in a stalemate, because both "Budva our city" and "For the future of Budva" had nine councilors each. That video is often published on social media accounts of Mikiel's supporters and bots.
Jovanović also bases his campaign on the fight against "criminal groups in NSD", accusing them of wanting control over Budva.
Unlike him, Mikijelj calls his campaign anti-Depees and calls on all those who are against that party to form a government after the November elections and prevent Jovanović from DPS and SDP from taking over the mayor's chair.
Only three days until the election of silence, two political blocs, once "brothers in agreement" are sifting through the blood cells of every member of one and the other option, sympathizers and activists, publishing alleged old connections and finding evidence of closeness with certain DPS officials.
In the Democrats-PES coalition, which he leads Dragana Kazanegra Stanišić they are clear that they will not form a government with the DPS, leaving no room for them to possibly accept the minority support of that party.
Kažanegra Stanišić claims that after the elections, he will not form coalitions with those who ruled Budva "in order to pave the streets", nor with the stars of the SKY application. It is known that precisely because of messages and correspondence on this application, the president of the Municipality was arrested in April last year Milo Bozovic, who is accused of smuggling several tons of cocaine. Božović allegedly supports Jovanović's list, which also includes his son.
And while this polemic is going on, the strongest opposition party in the DPS, which he leads in these elections as well Nikola Milović, are optimistic that after eight years they will return to power, and that without them it will not be possible to form, convinced of even better election results compared to the May elections, when they won seven council mandates,
After the May elections, this party denied that they had conducted negotiations with Jovanovic, which was speculated about in political circles.
While their political opponents accuse each other of who will form the government with them, the DPS leads a campaign in which it calls on the citizens that it is time for changes, thanking all those who have ruled Budva for the past eight years, for "bringing it to the bottom".
Bonus video:
