The newly elected President of the Municipal Assembly (Budva Municipal Assembly) Petar Odžić from the European Union, in his address after being elected, stated that in the previous days he did not want to react to the myriad of lies and untruths that the media, close to the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, Andrija Mandić, had spread about him.
"People who are my fellow citizens, friends and people who know me know what is true and what is not. Unfortunately, we testified today, we spent almost 90 percent of the session as if I should be elected patriarch, not president of the Assembly. And that is what is disastrous for our society. We have also heard countless manipulations and lies where the Serbian people are afraid of my name and my party. I think that in previous years I have proven that neither Serbs nor the Serbian people have any need to be afraid of Petar Odžić, nor of my party," Odžić pointed out.
He added that he will strive to meet everyone's expectations, regardless of nationality, religion, political or any other affiliation.
"There is room for all of us in Budva, regardless of whether someone has been here for two, three, four centuries, or came three, five, 20 or 50 years ago. What we need to do together is to truly reconcile this quarreling people. Not like Andrija Mandić does through his articles, where the quarrel does not allow brother to talk to brother, godfather to godfather, dividing people on religious, national, political and any other basis. Today we have repeatedly heard countless pamphlets about how someone here will endanger the existence of a people. That is untrue. We need to deal with worldly problems much more, and leave all these other things to the church. What they mentioned at today's session is disgusting. Mentioning tractors and expelling a people from Budva is shameful. Especially when it comes from a person who found refuge in Montenegro. If the citizens of Montenegro, regardless of whether Serbs, Montenegrins, Bosniaks, Croats, Muslims and others accepted it, what need do any of us have to drive those people away? People, don't fall for the manipulations of a man who currently doesn't know what he's doing and has taken the position of president of the Assembly of a country. Don't fall for the scams. We must not be divided," Odžić said.
He said that Budva has experienced a complete political and moral collapse over the past year.
"We have to change that. We have to deal with the real issues of our citizens regardless of the divisions that exist between us. From day one, I will try to reconcile all these warring parties on a personal level. Starting tomorrow, that will be my first task. This is the first step towards stabilizing political relations in Budva. After the election of the President of the Municipality of Budva and the completion of our bodies within the Municipality of Budva, we can roll up our sleeves and start solving the accumulated problems in Budva," said Odžić.
Petar Odžić from the European Alliance was elected president of the Budva Municipal Assembly by the votes of councilors from the "Budva Our City" list, the European Alliance, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Civic Movement URA.
Odžić took the oath.
Two councilors from the "Movement for the City" voted against the election of Odžić.
The leader of the "For the Future of Budva" list, Mladen Mikijelj, said that he would not participate in high treason.
Councilors from the coalition "For the Future of Budva", Democratic Montenegro and the Europe Now Movement (PES) left the session before voting on Odžić's election.
Srđan Pribilović, a councilor from the "Budva our city" list, said that they had not heard anything new that they had not heard in the past year.
"Lies and slander, that we are traitors. I remember individuals changing as Milo Đukanović turned. These great believers are trying to impose that we betrayed the church. Everything they did to us in the past year, not even the DPS did. They stopped us on the streets, threatened us, pulled out guns. I forgive them for everything, and I will not forget," said Pribilović.
Aleksandar Petrić, a councilor from the "Budva Our City" list, said that they remained consistent.
"We didn't fight and in 2020 we didn't get changes but replacements. I chose the side that won't consider my family second-class citizens," he said.
The leader of the "Budva Our City" list, Nikola Jovanović, told the chairperson Živana Mudreša to "calm down this brat", referring to the leader of the "For the Future of Budva" list, Mladen Mikijelj. Mikijelj told Jovanović that he was "a scoundrel" and a "traitor" and "a piece of traitorous trash".
Ilija Gigović, a councilor of the "For the Future of Budva" coalition, responded to Nikola Jovanović, the leader of the "Budva Our City" list, that his manner is to flatter himself and belittle others.
"My family has lived honorably in Budva for six centuries," said Gigović.
Željko Franeta, a member of the Democratic Montenegro party, said that by voting for Odžić, the Spuška vow was respected.
"This is pure interest and desire of the mafia that is in the Spusk prison," said Franeta.
He read the statements of former DPS councilor Ivo Gvozdenović when, as he claims, Nikola Jovanović and Drago Ivanović attacked him in 2020.
Nemanja Kuljača, a councilor of the coalition "For the Future of Budva", emphasized that it is good that the citizens of Budva can now see who signed the initiative for Petar Odžić's candidacy.
"This draft decision is a coalition agreement between Budva our city, SDP and DPS. I would like to congratulate you, because I thought that some individuals would never sign for DPS to return. And you are telling the Montenegrin public that this is not true. Read a little about the derogatory names Odžić called the Serbian Orthodox Church, Metropolitans Amfilohije and Joanikije," Kuljača emphasized.
Socialist People's Party (SNP) councilor Krsto Rađenović said he came forward to respond to Mijo Radonić, a councilor from the "Budva Our City" list.
"I have a problem with you because you changed your mind, the SDP and DPS have not changed," said Radjenovic.
He reminded the leader of the "Budva Our City" list, Nikola Jovanović, that the SNP came to power on the condition - a Basic Agreement.
"The basic agreement was adopted and the government fell," said Radjenovic.
He points out that everything today reminds him of 2020, the police are everywhere.
"I'm asking you, Mr. Jovanović, do you know anyone from the SNP who ended up in prison? No. And your people are now in prison and unfortunately Budva is being governed from the Supš prison," Radjenović pointed out.
"Movement for the City" councilor Ksenija Baković said, "in this house we are witnessing primitivism, all in order to get their hands on power."
"The narrative of all the councilors is full of words that are unfamiliar to me as a young man. You are talking about drug clans, crime instead of talking about the prosperity of the city. This is an evening of missed topics, we should have elected a president, so if someone doesn't like it, they can say so. And we have heartbreaking speeches, accusing who is a traitor. The people are interested in prosperity. This home is not what it should be. Today we have headlines in the 21st century - Budva has dawned clean. I call on the citizens of Budva to follow and remember everything that happened in the campaign," Baković emphasized.
He says that the "Movement for the City" has no problem being the opposition, but will be the voice of the people.
The constituent session of the Budva Municipal Assembly, attended by all 33 councilors, continued after a new initiative was submitted to appoint Petar Odžić as the president of the Municipal Assembly.
Democratic Montenegro councilor Dragana Kažanegra Stanišić stated that the session was not going well because councilors needed to vote on the agenda again.
She asked for this to be recorded.
"I understand the councilors who propose Odžić that they are in an independent situation because their names will be marked as those who are returning the DPS to power. Odžić is a compromise that Milo Božović and Zoran Lazović agreed on in the Spusk prison, which is why we will not support it. The citizens will give the court. It is crystal clear to me that the end justifies the means. It is clear that the property of the Budva don is blocked and that it is impossible to please those who helped in the elections, which is why the Budva coffers are the goal," she pointed out.
He tells the councilors that those who vote in favor will be exposed to the court of citizens.
"I am telling the people who are falsely insulting me and my family in the most brutal way, talking about themselves, not about me. I will not budge an inch, and that is a drug-related criminal organization that is being institutionalized tonight. I am telling them that we will fight back. We will not stop here," she said.
Chairwoman Živana Mudreša (URA) called a 15-minute break.
Jovana Todorović, a councilor from the "For the Future of Budva" coalition, said that a new initiative for the appointment of Odžić should be submitted, because the councilors who signed it have resigned.
"Don't break the law for the hundredth time today, set a break and pass a new initiative with signatures," she requested.
Budva Municipal Council Secretary Berislav Fabris stated that laws should be interpreted by the competent authorities.
Nemanja Kuljača (For the Future of Budva) said that Fabris took upon himself the interpretation of the law.
He insists on bringing in a new initiative.
Petar Odžić said that it is completely pointless to ask because the initiative is valid.
Chairwoman Živana Mudreša refuses to grant a break and submit a new initiative to be signed by the councilors present in the hall.
The leader of the "Budva Our City" list, Nikola Jovanović, said that citizens should not watch this disgrace and that they did not vote for it.
He stated that the initiative is completely legal.
"This is nonsense, the session should continue," said Jovanović.
Dragana Kažanegra Stanišić, a member of the Democratic Montenegro council, agreed with the councilors' suggestions.
"The government convened the first session with two items and then there was one initiative. That session has ended. Now a new session has been scheduled, and the initiative does not correspond to the constellation of councilors, because some of those who signed it have resigned. It is unusual that we do not have an initiative in front of us. Why not take a break and sign a new initiative," she said.
Jovanović says that if it is a request that everything be done legally, he has no problem signing the initiative, although he believes it is unnecessary.
Bojana Pićan (For the Future of Budva) is convinced that citizens would not have voted for the "Budva Our City" coalition if they had known that they would leave the DPS and SDP.
"Everyone carries their own shame," said Pićan.
She asked Petar Odžić whether he would attend the laying of the cornerstone for the new St. Mark's Church or go to the St. Sava Academy.
"Mr. Džaković will be a gentleman for all of you who vote to return the DPS," she said.
Ilija Gigović (For the Future of Budva) asked if Marko Carević was aware of what kind of snake he had in his bosom.
"He brought Nikola Jovanović, fed him, and put him in shoes. I advise Carević to think carefully about who his advisors are in the future. Let the one person he allowed to approach him mock him," Gigović said.
The leader of the "Budva Our City" list, Nikola Jovanović, replied that he wanted to thank Gigović for every word that was missed.
"You failed to pass the census, you were Suzana Pribilović's project. I don't know who you were flattering more. Don't worry about my relationship with Carević," Jovanović said.
He told Gigović that he hadn't come to work for three years and was receiving a salary.
"You are irrelevant," said Jovanović.
Petar Džiknić (SNP) said that Jovanović was "the umbrella bearer of my godfather Marko Bata Carević, who managed to cause a quarrel between people in Budva."
Jovanović said that the SNP was in the Dritan Abazović government, which was supported by the minority DPS.
"Honorable and honest SNP in the government supported by DPS," said Jovanović.
The leader of the "For the Future of Budva" list, Mladen Mikijelj, told him from the spot that enough of Jovanović's nonsense was enough.
"You carried an umbrella for both Milo Božović and Milan Knežević," Mikijelj said.
Jovanović said that he did not carry umbrellas for anyone.
Jovana Todorović, a councilor of the "For the Future of Budva" coalition, asked a question to councilor of the "Budva Our City" list, Mijo Radonić, who signed Petar Odžić's candidacy.
"Radonić, do you know that Metropolitan Amfilohije called Risto Satan? He derogatorily calls the Serbian Orthodox Church the Church of Serbia. To all councilors, I say that you are traitors. You are right not to form a coalition with DPS tonight, it has already been formed," she said.
Radonić replied that Petar Odžić was from a priestly family.
"Whether he said this, I don't care. And I remember well 1997 when Metropolitan Amfilohije was called Risto the devil," said Radonić.
The leader of the "Budva Our City" list, Nikola Jovanović, reacted to the allegations made by the leader of the "For the Future of Budva" list, Mladen Mikijelj, stating that we witnessed a farewell speech.
Mikijelj interrupted him, telling him that he had destroyed the Serbian idea. Jovanović reproached him for having been in a government supported by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) for 18 months. "If he had any morals, he would resign," Jovanović said.
Mikijelj interrupted him, accusing him of ties to the DPS.
"Shame on you, you mutt. From today on, you're a scoundrel for eternity," Mikijelj said.
Jovanović told him to be quiet.
The leader of the "For the Future" list in Budva, Mladen Mikijelj, said he would "expose the treachery of Nikola Jovanović and the Budva Our City councilors' club."
"The drug cartel and criminal gangs did the same thing today as they did at the previous session. Just as Savo Medigović was forced to resign at the previous session, now it has been done with Ilija Armenko. Armenko is in the police force to resign. The secretary of the Municipal Assembly Berislav Fabris did not personally ask for Medigović and councilor Niko Gracun to resign, but rather he was sent resignations with forged signatures," Mikijelj said.
Mikijelj said that the leader of the "Budva our city" list, Nikola Jovanović, came in 2019, and the DPS won the 2016 elections.
"He caused a fight between brothers, godfathers and relatives, divided the coalition so that DPS could return to power. He and Milo Božović hijacked the party, and embarked on an action to destroy the Serbian idea in Budva and introduce crime into the everyday life of this city," said Mikijelj.
He said that traitors are all those who, for the sake of personal interests, give up on DPS and bring Budva back to the bottom.
"Everyone who votes for Odžić has paved the way for the return of DPS and the implementation of such a model in Montenegro. If you have decided so, good luck to you, and the entire public should know that you are ordinary traitors," said Mikijelj.
Europe Now Movement (PES) councilor Dejan Rabrenović said that we are witnessing political commerce and hypocrisy.
"DPS (Democratic Party of Socialists) and the European Alliance are entering into an alliance with those they considered close to the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC), they are entering into an alliance with Jovanović, against whom they had previously made numerous accusations. This is a fight to preserve their positions," Rabrenović said.
He said that he would not vote for Odžić to be president of the Budva Municipal Council.
The leader of the "Budva Our City" list, Nikola Jovanović, replied that PES was the biggest loser in the elections and that their leader was the President of the Parliament and the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrija Mandić.
Jovanović said that the government at the state level will not survive because it is an unprincipled coalition.
"It is not true that 'Budva our city' is forming a coalition with anyone, first of all you in PES did not want to support our platform, so good luck to you in the opposition. No coalitions are being formed tonight," said Jovanović.
Councilors from the coalition For the Future of Budva also entered the hall.
Bonus video:
