Social Democratic Party (SDP) official Petar Odžić was elected last night, after a grueling six-hour session, as the president of the new Budva parliament, which constituted it and paved the way for the formation of the government and the election of the mayor, most likely Nikola Jovanović.
In addition to him and his party colleague, nine councilors from the list "Budva our city - Nikola Jovanović", a councilor from the URA, also voted for Odžić. Živan Mudreš who chaired yesterday's session and seven councilors from the Democratic Party of Socialists.
The votes of the DPS, which was in the Budva opposition for eight years, were crucial to the constitution of the parliament, and after two election processes in May and November last year, it unblocked the work of this chamber.
Two councilors from the "Movement for the City - Đorđe Zenović" were against the election, while councilors from the coalitions "For the Future of Budva" and "Democrats - PES" left the assembly hall on the eve of the vote.
Jovanović's group, the European Alliance (SDP, Social Democrats and Liberal Party), and URA are persistent in stating that they are the pivot of the current future government, and that anyone who supports their platform is welcome.
DPS denies that they are part of the government, and how their list leader Nikola Milović He points out that what he said on election night came true, that "without DPS there is no stable government in Budva."
Asked whether he would vote for Nikola Jovanović for mayor, Milović said that "that is another point we can discuss."
"Tonight we completed the election of the president of the Budva Municipal Council. If a platform emerges that should be the development of the city, we will discuss it and make a decision as a serious party," Milović said last night.
Asked to comment on what functions he expects to play in the future local government now that DPS is part of the government, Milović replied, "We are neither part of the government, nor do we have a coalition agreement, nor will we give minority support to anyone."
"We are a very serious party and we are ready to talk," said Milović.
After the session, Jovanović said that he would be a candidate for mayor.
"With the election of Mr. Odžić, we have definitely constituted the local parliament. The practice of having to wait for the Government to hold sessions has finally been stopped. I can say that this is the first step towards stabilizing the government and leading to the election of one of the most important bodies, which is the election of the President of the Municipality. I expect that in the shortest possible period of time we will convene a session and that, based on support for the platform, we will seek support from all members of the parliament and elect a president," said Jovanović.
Asked if he would be a candidate, Jovanović said that it was most likely. "We will present a platform as soon as possible. Moments are at stake," Jovanović said.
The newly elected head of the Budva parliament, Petar Odžić, said that a session for the election of the mayor of the municipality will be convened when 11 signatures of councilors for the candidacy are received.
Asked whether the European Union supports Jovanović for president, Odžić said that he had not yet received information that Jovanović was a candidate for mayor.
"If it happens, the European Union will support it," Odžić emphasized.
Božović submitted his resignation.
The current mayor, Milo Božović, who has been in the Supka pretrial detention center since April 13, 2023, on charges of being part of a drug gang, does not have a mandate until 2026.
In order for Jovanović to be elected as the first man of Budva, it is necessary for Božović to resign, or for the local parliament to remove him.
"Vijesti" received confirmation from several sources that Božović has submitted his resignation, and that he will step down and hand over his position to Jovanović, a close party colleague.
Božović clearly became involved in political developments in Budva at the beginning of December last year, when he dismissed the then Vice President of the Municipality, Jasna Dokić, after she left the "Budva Our City" group because she opposed the coalition with the DPS.
On the same day, Božović appointed Nikola Jovanović, the leader of "Budva our city", from the Supka cell, as his deputy.
Bonus video:
