The leader of the "Budva Our City" group, Nikola Jovanović, will most likely sit in the chair of the first man of that municipality today, because, in addition to the 12 councilors of that list, the European Union and the Civic Movement (GP) URA, who signed his candidacy, seven representatives of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) will also raise their hands for election.
Just like on Monday, when the same majority voted Petar Odžić (European Union) as the president of the Budva parliament, it is expected that today, at the session that is scheduled to begin at 16 pm, they will elect Jovanović.
Although he persistently denies that he has no agreement or coalition arrangement with DPS, but rather that the platform of the list "Budva our city", the European Union and GP URA, which has not even been presented to the public, can be supported by everyone through the minority model, "Vijesti" was told by DPS that "they will not provide unconditional support."
One of the first conditions mentioned by the strongest opposition party, which was met, was that the detained Milo Božović resign from the position of mayor of Budva, which he did. The Municipal Assembly (MA) is expected to acknowledge his resignation today.
And what the platform looks like and what it contains, Jovanović's group did not announce yesterday, and neither did the European Union and GP URA.
DPS is not familiar with the alleged document either, so it is expected that Jovanović could present it today. Three days ago, he said that he expects support from all councilors for the platform, which allegedly also envisages him taking the seat of the first man in Budva.
Before the councilors decide whether to vote for him, the resignation of Božović, who spent 25 months in office, 22 of which were in Supčan detention, on charges of being part of a drug clan, will have to be confirmed.
Božović submitted his "irrevocable resignation", as he wrote, on February 3, at a time when a political war was raging in the Budva Municipal Assembly hall in early January between two factions of the former united Democratic Front (DF), which he led in the elections and which won an absolute majority in October 2022. Božović's triumph turned into a split in the powerful political bloc just a few months after his appointment, more precisely on April 13, 2023, when he was arrested, which led to two election cycles.
Before electing Jovanović, the councilors will also have to acknowledge the end of his term as the deputy mayor of the municipality. Božović appointed him to the position on December 2 last year, having previously dismissed Jasna Dokić, thus openly supporting the “Budva our city” group.
Although Jovanović's group, and even he himself, insist that DPS will remain in the opposition benches and provide only minority support to the government, few in Budva believe that. With the election of Odžić, numerous DPS officials, supporters and activists have posted on social media that their party is returning to power in the tourism capital after eight and a half years.
The leader of the DPS list in last year's May and November elections, Nikola Milović, reiterated the position on the night after Odžić's appointment that the party would not give minority support to anyone.
"Vijesti" was told by several sources that DPS cadres will "slowly infiltrate" the Budva government since the beginning of the summer. The alleged agreement is that DPS partners from the "Budva Our City" list, the European Union and GP URA will leave the administration and services to the European Union, while they would "take" certain management positions in companies and institutions.
There is speculation that this party should take over the failing Municipal Enterprise, which many in Budva claim contributed to the ruination of the summer tourist season, when the city was dirty and littered with garbage.
The return of DPS to leadership positions is also expected in the largest cultural institution in Budva, Museums and Galleries.
What the strongest opposition party has its eye on is allegedly the Tourist Organization (TO) of Budva, but, according to "Vijesti", Jovanović's group also "has a stake" in the TO.
The lists "For the Future of Budva" and "Budva Our City" won nine seats each in the elections, DPS seven, the Democrats-Europe Now Movement coalition three, the European Union and "Movement for the City" two each, and GP URA one.
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