The Movement for Podgorica (PzPG) is close to the head of state Jakov Milatović and Citizen Movement (GP) URA Dritan Abazović they have not yet determined the final version of the platform they are preparing for negotiations on the formation of the government in the capital. While sources from GP URA claim that the coalition is unique, from PzPG they say unofficially that there are high chances that both political actors will negotiate separately, and the interlocutor well-versed in their mutual relations assesses that it seems to him that Abazović's party does not want an agreement.
According to the unofficial information of "Vijesti", Milatović and Abazović should talk today, after which it will be clearer whether their alliance, which appeared in the recent local elections as the "Za bolja Podgorica" list, will break up or start negotiations together. In the elections, they won six mandates in the local parliament, four of which went to PzPG, and two to GP URA.
The reason for the potential split could be the insistence of GP URA that their official and holder of the joint list Luka Rakcevic be the mayor. The two political subjects agreed at a meeting the night before last that this request should not be in the platform they are writing, but according to unofficial information, it seems that the issue is not for Abazović's party ad act.
"Vijesti" learned unofficially that in PzPG, they believe that GP URA's persistent effort to make Rakčević the first man of Podgorica is bringing them "to a fait accompli", i.e. not to go into the negotiation process together. A source from a subject close to Milatović said that it would be a mistake if Rakčević's name was found in the document, saying that their policy is not "blackmailing".
According to unofficial information from the newspaper, the possibility is not excluded that PzPG today, if there is no success in the conversation between Milatović and Abazović, will independently present the platform as its own and make the split official. "Vijesti" sources announced the night before yesterday that the joint document should be presented today.
The interlocutor, well acquainted with the mutual relations between PzPG and GP URA, stated that his impression was that Abazović's party, by insisting on names, leaves no room for agreement. He assessed that PzPG wants a "programmatic platform", adding that the agreement should be reached "on the basis of the programme".
One source of "Vijesti" from GP URA claims that there is no split yet and that the platform is to be aligned. However, he says that he thinks that the PzPG wants to form an alliance with the parties of the former Democratic Front (DF), and that, according to him, "not because Milatović likes that political group, but because he is afraid of them" and that "no they can withstand the pressure”.
That interlocutor said that GP URA is not against the former DF, but that then things should be cleared up within the "For a better Podgorica" list.
"To explain why we went to the elections, spent money, spat on each other...", he states.
Another source from the GP URA also claims that there are no quarrels or disagreements among the coalition partners, because, he says, otherwise, one of them would have appeared at the negotiations organized yesterday by the holder of the list "For the future of Podgorica" (former DF). Jelena Borovinić Bojović.
He stated that they have not yet finalized the platform, although, according to him, 80-90 percent of it has been created. He adds that in that document they should define the deadlines for the implementation of the planned projects, and determine the functions that can guarantee the implementation of the plans.
The interlocutor says that in the case of Rakčević, "the point is not personal", but in the position they require because, he claims, they want to take responsibility for fulfilling what was promised.
He says that among the projects that he intends to include in the platform are the construction of underground garages, promenades along Morača and Ribnica, the purchase of new buses for city transport, a basket of domestic products for pregnant women, 50 percent subsidy for extended stays of children... He announces that the document should be presented "these days".
GP URA announced yesterday that it stands by Rakčević as mayor. They stated that 60 percent of the citizens of Podgorica voted for the changes, and that it would be "completely unacceptable and contrary to the will of the majority of citizens for the government to be formed on exactly the same principles and bases as it has been functioning so far."
"Tumbling certain positions, without creating any new value. Our list offers the best program, specific projects and deadlines for their implementation," the announcement says.
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With the eventual separation of Milatović and Abazović, the post-election mathematics in Podgorica would change a lot, i.e. - it would be almost certain that the government would not be able to be formed by the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), but by the party of the state government.
The Assembly of the Capital City has 59 councilors, and in order to constitute the government, it is necessary to secure the support of at least 30 of them. The ruling parties can establish an administration 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 their traditional partners would not be able to come to power if GP URA and Milatović split. In that scenario, they would lack two or four "hands" in the local parliament.
The elections in Podgorica were held on September 29, and DPS won 19 mandates, the Europe Now Movement (PES) and Demokrat coalition won 14, the alliance "For the Future of Podgorica" 13, the list "Za bolju Podgorica" six, the European Union three, and Party of European Progress (SEP) and Movement "Revolution" for two mandates each.
After yesterday's meeting organized by Borovinić Bojović in Podgorica, the leader of the PES-Democrats alliance list Saša Mujović he repeated that the position of mayor belongs to them, and that the coalition led by Rakčević "can have their own wishes", but that it is unrealistic for them to seek the strongest position.
Apart from him, the meeting was attended by representatives of Democrats and constituents of the "For the Future of Podgorica" alliance.
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Mujović said that the lists that were at the meeting had a clear platform - that they wanted a strong city government.
"But democratic principles must be respected - participation at the level they trust. There is a 'tip on the scales' in politics, but there is an obstruction when the 'tip' thinks that it is more important than the 'scale'. We want this city to get the government it deserves as soon as possible", he said.
Borovinić Bojović said that she expected the presence of representatives of GP URA and PzPG, but that she was surprised that they did not have a platform yet.
"Discussion and agreement are the only measure of things... In any case, the most important thing is respect for democratic principles," she underlined.
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The constitutive session of the Podgorica parliament is scheduled for November 28, and the deadline for it to be constituted by electing its head expires on January 5, 2024, i.e. 60 days from the publication of the final election results in the Official Gazette (the mayor is elected no later than 30 days from constitution of the parliament). If this does not happen, the president will have to call for new elections.
The government in Podgorica consisted of PES (from which PzPG emerged), a coalition gathered around the former DF, Demokrata and GP URA.
Before yesterday, the only meeting on the formation of the government in Podgorica was held at the beginning of November, at the initiative of DPS. The meeting was attended by representatives of the European Union and SEP, and DPS announced after it the development of a platform that it has not yet presented. So far, only the European Union has done so.
What is written in the platform: respect for procedures, reforms, investments...
"Vijesti" has learned unofficially that PzPG and GP URA demand in the platform, among other things, that the Government and the Assembly refrain from passing laws concerning the Capital City without the consent of its leadership, and that the existing Law on Local Self-Government Financing be amended, which is they claim, damaged Podgorica for six million euros.
"Vijesti" publishes integral parts of the document that is under construction.
"Starting from the fact that in the pre-election campaign we clearly decided against the policies of the current government, especially those that represent a negative trend in the further democratization of society - adoption of laws excluding the public, politicization of institutions, non-transparency, absence of essential reforms and economic policies that do not lead to sustainable growth , but bearing in mind that we have received mandates from the citizens of Podgorica to change Podgorica, as a prerequisite for successful cooperation at the level of the Capital City, we demand:
1. Respect for democratic procedures in passing laws
We demand that the Government and the Parliament of Montenegro refrain from passing laws concerning the Capital City without the consent of its leadership, without a public discussion and without the involvement of the professional public. Transparency and participation of citizens and the professional public are key to the democratization of society and the passing of quality laws;
2. Amendment of the Law on Local Self-Government Financing
We demand the amendment of the existing Law on Local Self-Government Financing, which damaged Podgorica by six million euros. The new law should ensure a fair distribution of funds and support the even development of all regions, including the capital;
3. Administration oriented towards reforms
Aware of the fact that the Government has continued the same bad practices as the previous one, that there are still no essential reforms, in the Capital City we are advocating for changes in the previous negative management practices, for the improvement of the lives of the residents of the Capital City, and for the transparency and openness of management".
The platform also requires: respect for the Constitution of Montenegro and human, civil, minority rights and religious freedoms; compliance with the Law on the Capital City and the Statute of the Capital City; implementation of comprehensive local reforms, with a focus on accountability and efficiency; application of principles of good public administration in every segment of local government work; subsidy of 50 percent of the costs for the extended stay of children in the first three grades of elementary school; provision of free public transport for pensioners and an acceptable price list for other categories...
Among the demands is the initiation of an initiative to purchase new buses and vans.
"We will invest in the modernization of the public transport fleet in order to improve the availability and quality of the service, while reducing the negative impact on the environment. The budget of the capital city for the coming year 2025 has planned funds in the amount of two million euros for the aforementioned procurement, with the aim of improving public transport services and more efficient traffic management in the capital city", it is written in the document, which "Vijesti" had access to.
In the section of the platform entitled "a cleaner capital city", it was stated:
"Cleaning the city implies the identification of critical points in Podgorica that require immediate intervention, including neglected green areas, damaged benches and infrastructure in parks. Rehabilitation and renovation of public spaces, regular maintenance of parks, waste removal and the implementation of pest control in the necessary locations are planned, in order to ensure the cleanliness and health of urban areas.
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