Holder of the list of citizens' group "We live for youth" in the upcoming local elections in Berane Milanko Šćekić he assessed that "party soldiers" brought that municipality "to the brink of existence".
He said in an interview with "Vijesta" via e-mail that the list he leads offers radical changes, saying that Beran's problem is not a lack of money, but an "excess of ignorance and purchased diplomas of leading managers".
Šćekić states that all those who promise to respect the Constitution and laws are their potential partners after the elections scheduled for December 8.
Šćekić's list participates for the first time in the battle for councilor seats in the Beran parliament.
One of the slogans under which that list appears in the campaign is "Make Berane great again", a variation of the campaign slogan of the new/old American president. Donald Trump.
What result do you expect in the elections in Berane?
It is difficult and ungrateful to make any kind of forecast at this moment. It is up to us to explain our goals to the citizens, and let them choose.
Unlike the others, in these elections we are the only option from Beran, because all the others come from party headquarters in Podgorica and other cities. So if the people of Berane vote for Berane, it seems that we are the only choice this time.
According to the results of the last population census, the number of inhabitants in Berane decreased compared to that of 2011. What projects do you plan to start to stop this negative trend?
As a first step, we would appoint a non-partisan municipal manager. Although this is not the practice, for us, the manager and advisors would be persons who are educated (not with a purchased diploma) and ready to work in the interest of all the citizens of Beran, and not according to the party's dictates from Podgorica, as has been done for the last 30 or more years. What Berana lacks is a capable municipal manager and lobbyists, not party soldiers. The people of Beran deserve the best, because they finance them.
There must be dialogue with all businessmen. We would involve all businessmen and citizen representatives in solving problems, and we would not impose solutions that come from Podgorica, often from "experts" who have not seen Berane. We plan to work according to the principle of direct democracy.
Party soldiers brought Berane to the brink of existence. Those same party soldiers, quasi our competition, in the pre-election campaign offer solutions to problems that Berane would not have without them. That's a fact.
Our advantage is independence. If the people of Beran want to improve, they must choose the radical changes that we offer. If they are fine like this, let them choose a tried and tested team. That's called democracy.
We have only one sacred thing that we will respect, and that is the application of the holy Constitution and the laws derived from it, which are valid for all citizens. Albert Einstein defined stupidity as: "Constantly doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome". We are counting on the reason and intelligence of the people of Beran, so that they do not make the same mistakes when choosing.
Berane has potential, and we look at the same from the perspective of an eagle, not a pond in which frogs live. If you want to drain the pond, you must not let the frogs decide.
This way, at first, we can also, in the spirit of our political competition, make a couple of completely insane promises. For example, the ban on the sale of contraceptives. However, we do not aim to become involved.
What we can promise for sure is that we will work around the clock. As the statesman of the 20th century Winston Churchill said: "I can offer you nothing but blood, effort, sweat and tears". So do we.
The municipality of Berane is among those with the largest tax debts. How do you plan to reduce debt?
The financial problem of Aries was caused by the fact that they were not the best at writing projects and were not the best at deciding on the strategic goals of Aries and the long-term strategy, but only from election to election making empty promises, hiring relatives, godfathers, the neighborhood and patching holes. The problem of Aries is not a lack of money, but an excess of ignorance and purchased diplomas of leading executives.
What do you think should be done with Beran airport and airstrip? The street racing problem almost led to a fatal accident, do you think the track should be closed or do you have a plan for its valorization?
Berane Airport can be valorized if the concession is awarded to the best project, and not to self-proclaimed businessmen who give the thickest envelope. All the plans presented to the public in the last two years are one of the biggest deceptions in Montenegrin economic history.
Liberal economy offers the best solutions, not - left hand, right pocket. The citizens of Beran must be familiar with the projects down to the smallest detail and they should then decide and bear responsibility. It's about Berane, that's why the citizens have to decide - someone else's hand doesn't scratch the itch. Thus, Podgorica can only help us, but cannot solve our problems.
How do you plan to solve the problem of the closed bus station in Berane?
Berane must buy the bus station back and lease it long-term. The investor who provides the best business plan and work concept will also receive a bus station for long-term use. The offer must be profitable for both the municipality and the investor. It is not atomic physics, but basic knowledge of economics. We have people who have knowledge.
With which parties would you form a possible post-election coalition?
We don't think too much about coalitions. As we said, we are the only local list in the local elections, so there is no big dilemma. All those who put their hands and take an oath on the sacred Constitution of Montenegro and undertake to respect the laws are our partners.
Berana cannot afford the luxury of ruling ideologies.
What are the first steps your coalition will take if it takes over the management of Berane?
The first step must be to look at the factual situation and inform the citizens of Beran about it. We can now only guess how big the black holes are in Berane, but no one knows the truth. Once we know where we are, we would start solving the problems step by step.
That it will be easy - it won't, but we have to face the truth.
They don't say why familiar buildings have to be demolished in order for "Lidl" to be there.
How do you plan to solve the problem of private entrepreneurs who are the owners of premises scheduled for demolition due to the construction of the "Lidl" market? What measures would you take to help their survival on the market?
The problem of "Lidl" should be solved according to the proverb - both the wolf and the sheep in numbers. Shutting down private family shops, the middle class of society, in order for "Lidl" to come to that place is the greatest imaginable stupidity. The Municipality of Berane has other plots besides this one, which is being discussed. Why familiar buildings have to be demolished, in order for "Lidl" to come there - none of those responsible could explain to us. The transparency of that contract is zero. Vuko Todorović decided that on his own - for reasons unknown to us, and his potential successor Jelena Božović wants to implement that decision.
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