The formation of a government between parties whose representatives uttered numerous harsh words and insults about each other is not a rare phenomenon on the Montenegrin political scene, so it is not surprising that even yesterday's bitter enemies - the Movement for Podgorica (PzPG) found a common language on the division of power in the capital ) close to the head of state Jakov Milatović and the Europe Now Movement (PES) Milojko Spajić.
This was assessed by the interlocutors of "Vijesti", commenting on the parties' agreement on power in the capital, despite harsh words and mutual reprimands.
"We have reached a situation where everyone can work with everyone, and that would not be bad if it happened at the level of principles or at least common program principles. On the contrary, today, in principle, everyone can work with everyone for the sake of the party, which means personal interests or, colloquially, for the sake of the armchair", the executive director of the Center for Civil Liberties (CEGAS) told "Vijesta" Marija Popović Kalezić.
The Movement for Podgorica agreed on Thursday evening, after two formal meetings, to form a government in the capital with the ruling parties from the state level, i.e. the PES-Democrat coalition and the "For the Future of Podgorica" (former Democratic Front) list. It was agreed that the mayor of Podgorica would be Saša Mujović (PES), and the president of the Assembly of the capital Jelena Borovinić Bojović, who has been in that position until now. A session of the Assembly of the capital city will be held today, where the President of the Assembly will be elected.
The deputy mayor will be Nađa Ljiljanić (PzPG), while the second deputy will be Boris Spalevic (Democrats).
The ruling parties already manage Podgorica according to that model, only the place that now belongs to PzPG was covered by the Civic Movement (GP) URA, which was in the pre-election alliance "For a better Podgorica" with that political actor, but was not part of the agreement on to the new government. The government in Podgorica consisted of PES (from which PzPG emerged), a coalition gathered around the former Democratic Front (DF), Demokrata and GP URA. The mandate of the capital's Assembly was shortened in June by the votes of the opposition, GP URA and PzPG, after which extraordinary local elections were held on September 29.
"Great critic of the ruling parties, express until agreement with them"
Assistant professor at the University "Donja Gorica" (UDG) Nikoleta Djukanovic, she assessed that in recent days there has been a lot of talk about Milatović's actions, that, although he is a great critic of the ruling parties, he very easily and quickly reaches an agreement with those with whom he is more than displeased.
"This happened, as the constituents explained, thanks to the agreement that Milatović's representatives will get twice as many positions in the local government than their political strength was measured in the elections. Then the question is rightly raised whether the positions, if they were so fruitful that an agreement was finally reached, were earlier the reason for the early local elections," Đukanović pointed out.
She assessed that certainly none of the options available to Milatović were good, and that each one had a rather high price.
"However, the situation is very characteristic because he very openly attacked and criticized the parties with which he reached an agreement, almost before the actual discussion on the formation of the government," Đukanović pointed out.
She added that "it somehow does not fit in with Milatović's criticism of the Government at the expense of partitocracy, party recruitment, anti-democratic and anti-European characteristics of the policies of the ruling majority", so his "inconsistency in attitudes, unprincipledness, but also political inexperience, which he has now called into question political credibility”.
"On the other hand, the reason for responding to the invitation to the opposition parties is not clear either. And finally, the question arises as to how President Milatović will now criticize the same anti-European policies of the parties with which he is in power," Đukanović pointed out.
Popović Kalezić said that political campaigns have long since left the framework of elementary principles, basic education and competition with political ideas and views on the interests of Montenegrin society.
"Individual interests of parties, groups and individuals become primary, and they do not choose means and words to achieve their goals. Their impact on our community is devastating," she said.
He stated that the affirmation of "arrogance and ostentatious vocabulary", which is often used in an orchestrated manner on the public stage and through various mime variants on the networks, pollutes the public space and has a negative impact on everyday communication in society.
"It is particularly worrying that politicians mock any principles in this way, because we have two halves. First, where we can say anything and everything to each other, to construct the most heinous accusations and insults for political opponents, usually based on the mantra of traitors and patriots, and then wrap ourselves in rather narrow interests and make alliances to exercise power as if everything is fine Popović Kalezić said.
She assessed that it is the current "most widespread form of political activity in Montenegro".
On Tuesday, the PzPG invited the ruling parties to a dialogue, and after Milatović wrote on the X network that "the future of Podgorica and the future of Montenegro should be found through the strengthening of dialogue and mutual understanding between political entities and actors of the civic center", that is, "the idea that in the previous local, presidential and parliamentary elections, he led the unified PES".
The invitation of the Movement for Podgorica was preceded by the postponement of the meeting that this political entity was supposed to have on Tuesday evening with the opposition DPS, the European Union and the Party of European Progress (SEP). The meeting, which was supposed to be a continuation of the official negotiations on the city government that started on Monday, was reportedly canceled because all the list holders of those political actors could not attend the official gathering. However, in the last few days, there has been speculation in political circles that one member of the PzPG is not in favor of cooperation with the DPS. Without that councilor, PzPG could not form a government with the strongest opposition party.
Milatović, close to PzPG, and PES leader Spajić had disagreements regarding the political situation in the capital, but also in the country, both before and after the shortening of the mandate of the capital's Assembly at the end of July this year.
The alliance of PES and Democrats won 29 votes at the polls on September 17.672, while Spajić's party in early parliamentary elections in June of last year in Podgorica with smaller coalition partners had 27.620 votes, almost ten thousand more.
Spajić "immature", Milatović "spokesman of the opposition"
Spajić and Milatović have recently exchanged harsh words. Among other things, the Prime Minister recently said at a press conference that Milatović has no authority when it comes to "Montenegro's European path", nor anything to do with European integration. He accused the president of obstruction, that is, of not signing some laws immediately.
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The President's Cabinet reacted to Spajić's statements, assessing that Spajić showed a "lack of maturity and responsibility", and that Milatović is not the one who is slowing down the country's European path, but the responsibility for that should be reexamined by "those who continuously enact laws non-transparently, continue to do bad things" practices from the past and are collapsing Montenegro's relations with its neighbors".
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This summer, PES called Milatović "the recent president of all citizens and the new spokesperson of the opposition."
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The two leaders also argued about the way the Defense and Security Council works, of which they are ex officio members, so Milatović said on December 10 that he was shocked by the behavior of the Prime Minister who did not appear at the scheduled session, stating that this once again confirms that not everyone is up to the task they perform.
On December 13, Milatović's cabinet announced that by changing the leadership of the National Security Agency (ANB), the night before the EU's decision to close the three chapters, the national security system is once again in a state of emergency. He was appointed acting director of ANB Ivica Janović.
"This kind of action by the Government, after the legal and institutional chaos we witnessed during the election of the police director and the illegal attempt to replace the Chief of the General Staff of the Army of Montenegro, further confirms that there is an ongoing attempt to privatize the security sector and put it in the function of a party policy, not a state policy," they stated.
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MP of the Socialist People's Party Sladjana Kaluđerović she addressed Milatović in a video message recorded in front of the Presidency building, after negotiations with the DPS, and told him to "immediately return the mandate to the citizens because he deceived the people".
Two days before reaching an agreement in Podgorica, the head of the PES Parliamentary Club Vasilije Carapić he wrote on the X network that PES remained unique after the exit of Milatović and carries the idea he proclaimed from the beginning.
"The fact that Milatović was politically buried does not mean that the basic idea was buried with him, because in the end he turned out to be the weakest link, not the strongest. Are we wounded - we are, are we hurt by the betrayal of those closest to us - does it hurt, is the political quagmire deeper than we thought - yes, but let no one doubt that we will overcome it all and win again in the end", said Čarapić.
Previously, the Movement for Podgorica said that it would not negotiate on the formation of the government in the capital with anyone who, as they say, violates the Constitution, alluding to the government that voted at the Constitutional Committee for the conclusion that the judge of the Constitutional Court Dragana Đuranović becomes eligible for a pension under the Pension and Disability Insurance Act (PIO).
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On December 11, Milatović called Spajić for a dialogue, which, after three offered dates for the meeting, took place only on December 20, when they talked for four hours. The public is not yet aware of the details of the meeting, but a few days later an agreement was reached on the authorities in Podgorica.
Đukanović: Morality and politics are hard-to-connect categories
Đukanović said that in Montenegro, morality and politics are hard to combine categories and it is hard to come across examples of consistent and principled actions of political actors.
"Thus, we witness frequent deep passing, public attacks, accusations and deep conflicts between parties, which last a short period of time, after which they enter into various pre-election or post-election coalitions, just to get either more mandates or power".
She reminds that recently, opposition parties could be seen as great supporters of EU integration, which, when they were in power, were in fact great opponents of building a state based on the principles of the rule of law and democracy.
"Among them, the DPS is especially leading, who, just to please their European partners and voters today, are becoming great supporters of improving respect for human rights and the rule of law, which was actually at the bottom of their priorities when they were in power."
She pointed out that the position of GP URA, which today represents a party that is a great defender of the Constitution and the protection of the interests of the state, is interesting.
"If they had defended those interests when, hiding from the citizens, they signed the Basic Agreement and when they advocated the inclusion of Montenegro in the 'Open Balkans', Montenegro would look different today," Đukanović assessed.
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