The Movement for Podgorica (PzPG) is allegedly one step closer to the decision to form a government in the capital with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the rest of the opposition, rather than with the ruling parties from the state level, "Vijesti" has learned unofficially.
A source from PzPG close to the head of state, Jakov Milatović, said that this political entity has contacts with the DPS and the Europe Now Movement (PES) of Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, but that due to recent political events, they do not see the possibility of making an agreement with the ruling parties.
"With events related to the Constitutional Court, ANB (National Security Agency), PUP (Spatial and Urban Plan) of Podgorica... they only help us in our decision. The majority in our coalition with the GP URA is in favor of going with the DPS", said that interlocutor, saying that the PzPG would make the final decision on who they will form an alliance with on Friday.
Another interlocutor, close to Milatović, said that he is familiar with the new situation, but that he is waiting for Milatović's opinion when he returns from Brussels, where he participated in the Western Balkans - EU summit.
Milatović condemned the election of the acting head of the ANB, Ivica Janović, and the manner in which the mandate of Constitutional Court judge Dragana Đuranović ended, and PzPG councilor Drago Vučinić said this week that he will not form a government in Podgorica with parties at the state level if the PUP of the capital does not withdraw from the procedure.
According to "Vijesti" information, one councilor from PzPG is still against the alliance with DPS, but he did not want to comment on this to the newspaper. Without him, Pokret and URA cannot form a government with DPS and the rest of the opposition because they would have 29 councilors, and they need at least 30 to be in power.
The ruling parties can establish an administration even without the votes of the GP URA, and with the support of four councilors of the PzPG. In that case, they would have 31 mandates in the Podgorica parliament.
A source from the DPS said that until a few days ago, the situation was closer to the fact that there was no agreement on the formation of the government in Podgorica and that new elections would be held in the spring together with the elections in Nikšić.
"Everything that has happened in the last few days at the state level is pushing them in (our) direction," said the interlocutor to "Vijesta", adding that they have no concrete information about the alleged new developments in the Movement for Podgorica.
He said that informal discussions about a potential coalition are being conducted by their councilors with their colleagues from PzPG.
A source from the DPS said that they heard that one PzPG councilor is allegedly against a coalition with them.
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 Milatović announced an invitation to the Prime Minister for a meeting at the end of November, which Spajić welcomed, it was interpreted as a "step towards an agreement" on the formation of the government in the capital.
A day after the invitation and assessment of experts in political situations that important international addresses assist in the reconciliation of former comrades, the two exchanged harsh words - Spajić, among other things, accused Milatović of obstructing Montenegro's path to the European Union (EU) and that he has no authority to deals with EU integrations, and the cabinet of the head of state responded that the prime minister showed a lack of "maturity and responsibility that the position" he covers requires.
Saša Mujović, the holder of the list of the Europe Now Movement (PES) and the Democrats in the recent elections in Podgorica, announced at the beginning of December that he would call for negotiations on the formation of Milatović's government, but not the GP URA.
This was previously decided at the beginning of the week at the session of the Executive Board (EO) of the Podgorica PES, where it was concluded that it will depend on Milatović whether he will insist on the participation of GP URA Dritan Abazović in the talks.
However, after the new strain of relations between Spajić and Milatović after Spajić's failure to attend the Security and Defense Council session, this did not happen.
PzPG and GP URA presented a joint negotiation platform at the end of November, in which it is written that the position of mayor should belong to their alliance, but the name of Luka Rakčević, whose election GP URA insists on, is not mentioned. Although both Milatović and the PzPG believe that he is the best candidate for the leader of Podgorica, the PzPG stated that the platform "is not the Holy Scripture", but a starting point.
The mandates of the councilors of the Capital Assembly were verified at the constitutive session on November 28, and the deadline for the formation of the government is January 5.
Bonus video:
