The new mayor of Podgorica Saša Mujović (PES) announced that it will deal with pressing city problems this month and that some directors of city companies will be replaced, as citizens expect results.
He said in an interview with "Vijesta" that he will visit Čistoća on January 10 and that by January 15 he will talk with the President of the Municipality of Zeta and the residents of Botun about the wastewater treatment plant.
Mujović said that the temporary financing will not leave consequences for the city and he expects the budget to be approved during January.
Commenting on the criticism that the agreement on the formation of the authorities in Podgorica with the Movement for Podgorica, which is supported by the president Jakov Milatovic, the fruit of blackmail, he said that these are speculations.
He also said that, in accordance with the coalition agreement, about 25 percent of the positions in the local government went to the Movement for Podgorica.
He said that the Movement arose from PES, their program objectives are the same and that is why they decided to forget the "poisonous arrows" that were fired from both sides during the campaign and to form a city government.
Why did you decide to leave the post of minister of energy and become the mayor of Podgorica? Who would you like to see in your current position (PES MP Uglješa Urošević is mentioned)? Is it true that the party of the former Democratic Front is seeking the post of Minister of Energy?
I made the decision the moment the campaign for the elections in Podgorica began. What followed after that - the correct election result of the list I led and the finalization of the negotiations regarding the formation of the city government, and emphasizing my smallness as a candidate for mayor, is only a reflection of the obligation to fulfill my promise to the voters and to accept this position. During the campaign, you witnessed numerous insinuations that I am a "spoiled" candidate, that I only want to attract voters and remain in the ministerial position. I emphasize and will emphasize that there is no compromise with the promises given and people's trust, and that this is my guide in life. Knowing how important the field of energy is in the position of minister, I would like to see a person of integrity and strong authority, educated and knowledgeable in this complex matter. Who will be the candidate is not a question for me and I generally don't like to interfere in things that are out of my control.
The opposition claims that the agreement with the Movement for Podgorica regarding the new government in the city is the result of blackmail. Is that correct?
I belong to a world that wants to be grounded in every claim. Therefore, whether there was blackmail regarding the formation of the government in Podgorica or not, who was blackmailed, who is the blackmailer, what kind of blackmail is in the middle are questions from the realm of speculation. I'm not very good at that and I can't answer. I know and claim that I did not blackmail. Let those who doubt clearly disclose the rest.
During the election campaign, you claimed that you would be against the coalition with the president of the country, Jakov Milatović, and the leader of the URA Citizens' Movement, Dritan Abazović. Why did you change your mind and still form the government with the Movement supported by Milatović?
I'm not someone who suffers from amnesia or someone who is ashamed of spoken words and looking for an alibi for them. I stand by everything I said in the campaign. However, I would also like a dose of correctness in citing quotes. I have always emphasized that this is my personal position, and the decision on post-election alliances is up to the coalition I lead. Simply put, PES and Democratic Montenegro, that is, our sympathizers have priority over any individual. We wanted an election result that would allow us to form the government ourselves. We did not achieve that, but again something was achieved that opened up space for us to form a government and create preconditions for the realization of the given election promises. Mr. Milatović's movement stemmed from PES, our program goals are the same, if not identical. That's why we decided to forget the "poison arrows" that were fired from both sides during the campaign and to form a city government. A new round of elections would mean additional exhaustion of the citizens, but also what is perhaps even more important - blocking the normal functioning of Podgorica. That should not have been allowed, because a lot of time had already been wasted.
What are the key points of the coalition agreement that you signed with the Movement for Podgorica, the Democrats and the coalition for the future of Podgorica? In what percentage did you share functions in secretariats, agencies and companies? How can you influence that those positions are not filled by incompetent party soldiers, but by people who can really improve life in the capital?
The key point of the agreement is that we are ready to work together, unreservedly, for the good of our fellow citizens. That our goal is a stable government at the level of the capital and the realization of projects vital for Podgorica. That's the bottom line and that's what interests me. I am not sure of the exact percentage, but something around 25% went to President Milatović's list. I must say that their approach in negotiations was very open and fair and that their demands were not megalomaniac. As for the directors of city enterprises, some already exist, some will be replaced, but the goal remains the same - citizens expect results from those enterprises, and I am the one who is responsible for them. I will do everything so that the directors have my trust and full attention, but there is also an expectation that they will repay me in the same way with their responsible work.
Why did you postpone the adoption of the Capital City budget for the following year? Given that Podgorica will enter temporary financing, will it affect some important projects? If so, which one?
We expect the adoption of the budget during January and the temporary funding will not have any consequences for the city. We postponed the adoption of the budget by complying with the request of the opposition parties, which was completely justified and acceptable. A day or two before the New Year is not the best time to debate such an important topic.
When can the citizens of Podgorica expect a reduction in traffic jams, a cleaner city and a city collector (which your coalition partner Milan Knežević reiterated will not be in Botun)? How?
What I promise is that I will devote myself to it as much as possible and do everything to see quick results. I answer these questions from my office even though they are holidays and non-working days. I feel a huge obligation to ensure that the men and women of Podgorica are satisfied with the mayor. Already on January 10, I am planning a visit to the company Čistoća. Also, during February, we expect a faster flow of traffic and less congestion on the stretch from Revolucije Boulevard to Gintaš market, through the application of new solutions in the field of smart traffic lights. By January 15, I plan to have a conversation with the president of the Municipality of Zeta and the residents of Botun on how to overcome the biggest problem of Podgorica - the lack of wastewater treatment plants.
You announced that you will consider all proposals regarding the Spatial Plan of Podgorica. To what extent will the PUP be the first test for the new coalition government, considering that one member of the Movement for Podgorica announced that he will not form a government with you if that plan is not withdrawn?
As you know, the PUP of Podgorica is under the authority of the Ministry of Spatial Planning. It is an instance that will raise objections, and by the fact that the adoption of this document has been postponed, I believe that they have shown the desire and capacity to consider and adopt certain suggestions of citizens. I hope that through that analysis, an adequate explanation of the solution will be offered to the councilor of the Movement for Podgorica.
What is your opinion about the Velje brdo project? Why?
Velje brdo is an important project for Podgorica and a project that can change the city to a great extent. Of course, every project of this type brings a large amount of unknowns, skepticism, opens space for guesses and arbitrary, often malicious interpretations. I know that the position of the Government of Montenegro was that this should be an opportunity for those who are important for the future of Montenegro to stay here and solve the housing issue under the most favorable conditions. So, I'm ready to say that the idea itself has no flaws. As the mayor of Podgorica, I will support every project that is done in a way that respects the rules of the profession, that residential space is not favored at the expense of kindergartens, schools, health, sports and cultural institutions. There are clear spatial planning rules and good examples of urbanization and they should be followed. In addition, I am very interested in how the communal equipment of that settlement is planned - access roads and sewage system. If we don't have any problems there, then Velje brdo can be a great development opportunity.
With a lot of optimism, we can expect a response from the Energy Community for the Thermal Power Plant
What exactly did the Energy Community decide regarding your request that Montenegro be exempted from the application system of the CBAM mechanism and that the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant not be closed until 2041? Some experts believe that this request has been denied, pending the publication of their documents. Is that correct? If so, what does it mean for Montenegro?
I made a huge effort to adequately represent Montenegro in the Energy Community and to earn credibility and respect. Did I succeed - I would like you to hear "firsthand" from the director Artur Lorkovski and the members of that renowned body. The basic prerequisite for them to be exempted from the application of CBAM is our connection with the European electricity market. Again, in order to succeed, we must adopt the Law on the Use of Energy from Renewable Sources (adopted), the Law on Energy (in the parliamentary procedure, received a positive opinion from the Legislation Committee) and the Law on Cross-Border Exchange of Energy and Gas (passed public discussion and is expected to will be before the deputies in February 2025). So, the Ministry of Energy has done everything necessary to be able to ask for an exemption and I think, completely contrary to the "experts" you mention, that we will get it. Recently in Vienna, I raised the question of how to bridge the gap from 1/1/2026 when the CBAM mechanism officially starts to be applied until the moment of market unification (4th quarter of 2026) and the door for negotiations is completely open. We can expect the final answer from the Energy Community with a lot of optimism. The year of the Pljevlja Thermal Power Plant's decommissioning (2041) is foreseen by the draft version of the National Energy and Climate Plan, and this was not discussed at the ministerial meeting in Vienna, nor was there any comment. So, let the "experts" sleep peacefully, and time will show how much was done in one year of my ministerial mandate.
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