It will be difficult for Budva politicians to sit at the same table

We don't need twisted forms, but a clear departure from DPS, says Mladen Mikijelj

Considering the absence of information about the invited subjects, we will not go to the meeting, says Krsto Radović

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"Took responsibility for the processes": Jovanović, Photo: BORIS PEJOVIC
"Took responsibility for the processes": Jovanović, Photo: BORIS PEJOVIC
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

Leader of the political group Budva naš grad Nikola Jovanovic who invited the parties, who accept his five points for the recovery of the city, to talk, will have to specify first who he sees as interlocutors, because not everyone wants to sit at the same table.

This is what representatives of the majority of participants in last week's extraordinary elections in Budva told "Vijesta", after the government was not formed in that municipality after the May vote.

If the representatives of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) are sitting at the negotiating table, the representatives of the coalitions For the Future of Budva and Democrats/Movement Europe Now (PES) will not appear. On the other hand, there will be no representatives of the European Union at that table, if representatives of the former Democratic Front (New Serbian Democracy, Democratic People's Party) will sit behind him.

However, Jovanović's invitation was accepted by his political opponent, Mladen Mikijelj, the holder of the list for the future of Budva, who interpreted it as a positive response to the coalition's initiative.

"The day before yesterday, I invited all political subjects who are on the anti-DPS platform to sit down and form a government. I see Mr. Jovanović's statement as a positive response to our initiative," Mikijelj told "Vijesta".

He said that he expects that before they sit down at the table they will clearly announce that they will not form a government with the DPS.

"We don't need convoluted forms, but a clear departure from DPS and the preconditions have been created for the government to be formed on the basis of the electoral will of the citizens of Budva," said Mikijelj.

He and Jovanović exchanged heavy accusations during the campaign, including those of cooperation with organized crime. Their lists won nine mandates each, and they could form the government on their own.

Yesterday morning, Jovanović proposed five points for the recovery of Budva and called on all political parties that accept these priorities to sit down and talk, saying that he "takes responsibility for the five points".

The five points are the rationalization of local self-government, the unblocking of the city's institutions, the resolution of the communal chaos, the improvement of the city's infrastructure and the remediation of the urban chaos by taking urgent measures related to planning documents.

Jovanović emphasized that the above points require a broad social consensus of all relevant factors of social and political life.

"Because whoever is ready to accept them, I expect by the end of the week an invitation to sit down at the table and find the best solutions and modalities for overcoming the problems in our city," said Jovanović.

In the Democrats - PES coalition, they believe that it is necessary to first clarify the composition of the possible political forum.

"Given that Mr. Jovanović's invitation refers to an unspecified number of entities, we believe that it is necessary to first clarify the composition of the possible political forum to which the invitation refers," the president of the Budva Democrats told "Vijesta" Krsto Radović.

As he said, they are consistently guided by the principles of clarity of views and political responsibility towards citizens, and therefore any decision to participate in the talks must be based on clear information about the participants of the meeting.

"Our long-standing position on cooperation with certain political entities remains firm and unchanged," he said.

Radovic said that, in accordance with their principles and promises made to citizens, they exclude any possibility of forming a government with DPS or entities that support their political practices in any way.

"In this sense, we believe that the current invitation, given its imprecision and lack of information about the invited political subjects, is not in accordance with our vision of responsible political cooperation. Therefore, we will not respond to the aforementioned meeting, remaining true to our principles and responsibility towards the citizens who have shown their trust in us", stressed Radović.

Holder of the European Union list - SDP, SD, LP - citizens, Petar Odžić he repeated that this alliance has been constructive until now when it comes to the formation of the government in Budva.

"However, so far we have not received any official invitation, but we learned about it from the media. When we receive the official invitation, when we are informed about the format of the meeting itself, as well as the participants in that meeting, we can declare whether we will appear or not. The European Union will also have a constructive approach this time, but that does not mean that we will be part of the government at any cost, nor that we can sit at the same table with those whom we have openly said cannot be our partners", emphasized Odžić.

Leader of the Movement for the City Đorđe Zenović, who led the list of Democrats in the previous elections, told "Vijesti" that no invitation had been sent to his address.

"It is for the ceremonial session of the Budva Municipality Assembly, and I will respond there, although I do not know who will be the host, considering that we do not have a president of the Municipality Assembly, and the President of the Municipality is in custody. However, out of respect for that important date and for our fellow citizens who gave their lives for freedom, I will attend the ceremonial session," Zenović said.

Holder of the URA Civil Movement list Blazo Radjenovic he said that they did not receive an official invitation, but that the party will respond to all invitations for the formation of the government, which go in the direction of unblocking the system and the prosperity of Budva.

"If none of the political parties and coalitions that won the most votes will offer a proposal for the formation of the government, or they cannot do so, the URA will offer a platform for the formation of the government and exit from the crisis. We have always been and will be part of the solution, never the problem," Rađenović told "Vijesta".

According to the preliminary results of the Municipal Election Commission, in the extraordinary elections held on November 17, the coalition for the future of Budva won 25,93 percent of the votes, and the civic list Budva naš grad 25,3 percent of the votes (nine mandates each).

The Democratic Party of Socialists received 21,96 percent of the vote (seven mandates), the Democrats/PES coalition 9,72 percent (three mandates), the Movement for the City list - Đorđe Zenović 6,41 percent (two mandates), the European Union 5,9 percent ( two mandates), GP URA 3,59 percent (one mandate), and the list "Dr Vujičić Božidar – Voice for Change" 1,2 percent (no mandate).

"Call to save Budva"

Jovanović extended the invitation not only to political actors, but also to academic citizens, non-governmental organizations and all people who can help them put their promises into action.

"Dear future collaborators, this is not a political call, where we will talk about the distribution of the political cake, but a call for the salvation of Budva and a better life for all its citizens. We don't have the right for the citizens to be dissatisfied for even one more day, because we can hope for a vote only when we do something for them. Personally, I am ready to shorten the term of office after achieving these goals from the call and then measure ourselves again in front of satisfied citizens. Let's do everything necessary to win the 'match' whose points will be the best life for the citizens of Budva", concluded Jovanović.

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