The Tenth Congress of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) was held at the University Sports and Cultural Center in Podgorica.
At the Congress, former leader Milo Đukanović was elected honorary president of the DPS. At the Congress, the DPS also elected a new Main Board (GB).
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The congress was attended by leaders of political parties: Damir Šehović (Social Democrats), Ivan Vujović (Social Democratic Party), Adrijan Vuksanović (Croatian Civic Initiative), Vatroslav Belan (Liberal Party), Mehmed Zenka (Democratic Union of Albanians), Fatmir Đeka (Democratic Party), Genci Nimanbegu (Forca), Sead Šahman (Bosniak Democratic Movement), Novak Adžić (Montenegrin European Party).
Also present were MP and member of the Presidency of the Bosniak Party Jasmin Ćorović and the president of the Bosniak Youth Forum Suada Musić, as well as a councilor of the Party of European Progress in Podgorica Jelena Knežević.
From the region, the following were present: the president of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, the leader of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Nenad Čanak, the secretary general of the Social Democratic Alliance of Macedonia, Aleksandar Saša Dimitrijević, the director of the Center for Research and Analysis, Jon Frčkovski, the international secretary of Self-Determination and Minister of Culture of Kosovo, Hajrula Çeku, and the secretary general of Self-Determination, Alim Rama.
The congress was also attended by representatives of civil society, national councils and associations of Montenegrins from the diaspora.
Živković: When we see the effects of the government since 2020, it seems that our mistakes were not so big
DPS President Danijel Živković said that a lot has changed in Montenegro in the period between the two congresses:
"From a country that until August 2020 was an example of political stability and economic prosperity, a reliable neighbor and a respected member of NATO, uncompromisingly and clearly oriented towards the EU, we have become an unstable country, institutionally and economically destroyed, with security threats, both externally and internally," said Živković.
"Fighting with its closest neighbors, a state whose ruling majority, without vision and clear strategic direction, subordinates the fate of the state and its citizens to its political interests, political positions, and the smallest privileges," he adds.
He recalled that three governments have changed, and assessed that the current one, with its nationalist platform and populist policies, is eroding not only the economic and financial substance of society, but also the values that are the foundation of modern Montenegro.
Živković said that in the last four years, the constant has not changed: DPS, despite "sceneless coups, revengeful celebrations, shameful attacks on members, has remained the strongest party on the political scene."
"We have uncompromisingly defended and will defend the constitutional and historical right to decide the fate of the state exclusively in Montenegro. Montenegrin sovereignty has survived through the centuries in a permanent struggle to defend state dignity, despite continuous attempts that continue today - to finally subjugate Montenegro with various nationalist strategies, which included strong logistics, big money and the engagement of a powerful propaganda machinery," said Živković.
He said that the executors of this plan are domestic actors, embodied in the so-called 2020th of August majority, who have been competing since XNUMX to see who will cause more damage to Montenegro, subjugate its institutions, and destroy the security system, with the ultimate goal of making Montenegro's statehood and sovereignty just a dead letter on paper.
"Which in the end should open the logical question of the survival of the independence of such a state. They did not succeed and will not, while the DPS and citizens are ready to oppose such a scenario," said Živković.
He said that DPS has always taken care of the state dignity and reputation of Montenegro.
"We were not, of course, blameless and, unlike our political competition, we very consciously and publicly speak about the shortcomings and shortcomings of our policy - both during the time we were in power and today. In the few years that we have been in opposition, we have had the opportunity to analyze what we did and to explain why we lost the majority support of citizens at one point. However, when we look from this perspective, after almost five years of political changes, at the effects of all the 'post-August' governments and with what unbearable ease they destroy everything they can reach, guided by the primary goal of staying in power for as long as possible, then it seems to us that our mistakes were not as big as they are trying to present themselves as," said Živković.
He pointed out that the series of local elections last year showed that they are on the right track and that support for their policies is growing, and they ended last year with a rating of almost 29 percent.
He said he is confident that support for the program and vision in the upcoming elections in Nikšić will exceed 30 percent.
"Continuing further growth, until the trust we had during the period of government is restored, is the absolute priority of the new leadership," said Živković.
"Special thanks to Đukanović"
Živković said that they owe special gratitude to former DPS leader Milo Đukanović.
"Not only for the historical achievements and accomplishments that our party has achieved under your leadership, but also for the fact that back in 2016 you opened space for a new political generation that has since matured and taken over the leadership of the party. Your goodwill and, we can safely say, paternal approach that you have had towards us from day one, as well as the invaluable help that you continue to provide us today through your experiences and advice, particularly oblige us to be worthy of the trust you have placed in us," he said.
Šehović: DPS led by Živković is ready to behave in accordance with the new times
SD leader Damir Šehović called the results they achieved together from 1998 to 2020 historic.
"This is not just a congress of one party, but much more than that. This is our common voice of resistance, a voice that clearly says that Montenegro will not surrender or be sold. It will not back down before those who brought us a time of primitivism and destruction, in which every possible way is being tried to collapse the basic values on which this country has rested since the restoration of independence. Five years ago, they promised us freedom, and they provided freedom only in outbursts of the most brutal national and religious hatred. They promised us a civil and secular society, and we got clerical nationalism and vulgar theocracy."
He says that all the talk about economic reconstruction and reforms has been turned into "cheap selling of fog", thanks to which "prices are soaring and the state is drowning in debt".
"We are living in a new political era, and it requires new people, new energy and a new, different approach to politics. DPS led by Danijel Živković very clearly leaves the impression that it is ready to behave in accordance with these new times. Today's election of new party bodies only confirms this approach. However, the role of DPS today is the same as it was before - to continue to be one of the important pillars of the defense of state-building policy, together with those of us from the European Union, with the parties of smaller nations present here. That is why I wish you success, because only a strong DPS, a strong European Union, a strong pro-European opposition that will soon become the government, mean a strong and secure civic Montenegro," said Šehović.
Vuksanović: Retrograde policies want to jeopardize what we have achieved together
President of HGI Adrijan Vuksanović said that the congress of each party is an opportunity to review all achievements from the past.
"Today, we can be proud of everything we have achieved together - the restoration of Montenegrin independence, Montenegro's entry into NATO and Montenegro's path towards the European path, towards European integration. All of these are timeless values for Montenegro, its society and citizens," said Vuksanović.
He said that many of the emancipatory processes that have begun have not been completed.
"And not only are they not finished, but relapses from the past and retrograde policies want to jeopardize what we have achieved together," said Vuksanović.
Zenka: To be the locomotive of preserving the values we had
The President of the Democratic Union of Albanians, Mehmed Zenka, said that they were the first minority people to say "yes" to Montenegro.
"That's why I wish you, because the burden of history has fallen on you, that you will be the locomotive of carrying and preserving all the values that we had in Montenegro," said Zenka.
Đeka: Cooperation is good, there is room for improvement
Democratic Party President Fatmir Đeka said that they have cooperated with DPS for decades, and that they continue to cooperate today - more so at the local level.
"This cooperation is good, but there is room for improvement."
Nimanbegu: Belgrade has not changed
Force President Genci Nimanbegu said he was concerned about the situation the entire society finds itself in.
He said that the same things that happened to him when he entered politics are happening to young people who are now entering politics.
"Belgrade has not changed. That is the message we must say publicly... In our region, we are all changing, both Forca and DPS, but there are no strong signals that Belgrade has changed," Nimanbegu said.
Ćorović: We are proud of our joint results
Member of the Presidency of the Bosniak Party, Jasmin Ćorović, said that he believes that the Bosniak Party and other minority parties have partly helped in all the successes achieved, through a coalition alliance with the DPS in several election cycles.
"We are proud of all our joint results and cooperation with you, which we had at the state level and which we still have in several important municipalities, such as Bijelo Polje, Bar, Plav and Ulcinj," said Ćorović.
Šahman: We have decided to return the compatriot's national name to the pedestal it belongs to.
The president of the Bosniak Democratic Movement, Sead Šahman, said that he could not talk about joint cooperation with the DPS, because they founded the movement last year and decided to "turn a new leaf and return the compatriot national name to the pedestal that belongs to it."
Adžić: Cooperation to remove incompetent government
Novak Adžić from the Montenegrin European Party said that cooperation between opposition parties with a sovereign, state-building and civic profile should be intensified with the aim of democratically - in elections - "replacing the incompetent government that has caused incalculable harmful consequences to Montenegro since 2020 and is implementing a policy that is harmful to the identity and integrity of Montenegro."
Hajdaš Dončić: The fight will last
The president of the Social Democratic Party of Croatia, Siniša Hajdaš Dončić, said that Živković and the DPS have a historic role in preserving the statehood of civic Montenegro, stating that it is a fight that will last.
Čanak: I would be calmer if there was a party like DPS in Serbia
The leader of the League of Social Democrats of Vojvodina, Nenad Čanak, said that there were no other guests at the congress from Serbia, because "Serbia is a destroyed state in which nothing functions anymore, except for the mafia regime."
He said that without changes in Serbia, there is no peace in the region.
"It's clear that there's no place to start. There's energy in the streets, but energy without control is nothing," he said, adding that he would be calmer if there was a party like DPS in Serbia.
He emphasized that Montenegro and the DPS must now show themselves, and that they must once again be a refuge for the exiled and protection for "those fleeing madness."
Živković: The reform process will be completed
DPS leader Danijel Živković said in an interview with "Vijesti" that 588 delegates will attend the Congress, who will vote for the proposed candidates electronically.
He said that, after the election of the new General Assembly, the party president proposes a new composition of the Presidency at the first subsequent session, and then proposes to the newly elected Presidency the composition of the General Secretariat - the Secretary General, the Political Director, the Business Director and the Spokesperson.
"This will also complete the four-year process of DPS reform, which began at the Ninth Congress," said Živković.
A new party statute should also be adopted at the Congress.
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Bonus video:
