Sharp clash between prime ministers Milojko Spajić and ministers from the coalition For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) regarding the appointment of New Serbian Democracy (NSD) personnel Mladena Mikielja, will not currently threaten the Government or the ruling coalition, but it shows how questionable its long-term sustainability is.
This was assessed by the interlocutors of "Vijesti", answering questions about whether the Prime Minister's refusal to put the appointment of Mladen Mikijelj on the agenda at the last Government session, as requested by the Minister of Spatial Planning, Urbanism and State Property, Slaven Radunović (NSD), "at the cost of leaving the government", could it threaten the coalition or is it just another squabble between the government's constituents.
"This is not just a mere squabble between the constituents of the government, but a symptom of a fundamental mismatch of interests and political ambitions of the partners, who from the beginning were united more by pragmatism than by real programmatic or ideological agreement," the director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) told "Vijesti". Nevenka Vuksanovic.
She stressed that this does not necessarily mean the end of the coalition, but it shows how questionable its long-term sustainability is.
According to information from "Vijesti", the attempt to appoint Mikijelj as director of the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management in the new term caused a fierce argument at the Government session on Thursday, because the Prime Minister did not allow the item proposed by the Minister of Spatial Planning, Slaven Radunović, to be put on the agenda.
Four participants in the session told the newspaper that Radunović requested that the last item on the agenda, "personnel issues," be supplemented by the appointment of Mikijelj, whose four-year term expired yesterday.
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After Spajić refused, these sources of "Vijesti" claim that Radunović and some other ministers from the coalition For the Future of Montenegro insisted that Mikijelj be elected, "at the cost of leaving the government."
"Good luck to everyone who wants to leave," the prime minister allegedly said at the session, according to sources in "Vijesti," "not wanting anyone to blackmail him." "He told them to send reasons why Mikijelj is being appointed and not someone else."
Spajić reminded coalition partners of the agreement that professionals, not party members, would be appointed to management positions in state-owned enterprises.
Political analyst Sergej Sekulovic told "Vijesti" that based on the available information, including Spajić's statement, he does not think this is a serious conflict that could threaten the Government.
"The situation was certainly not pleasant, but I don't see that, in itself, it could be a reason for more serious reactions," Sekulović assessed.
The Director of the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management is appointed by the Government upon the proposal of the Personnel Commission, to which the Minister of Spatial Planning submits his proposal and the candidate's CV.
"Vijesti" sources claim that Radunović did not propose Mikijelj to the Personnel Commission, but rather tried to "push" the prominent official of his New Serbian Democracy directly at the Government session.
And with this fact, Spajić allegedly explained his refusal to put Mikijelj's appointment on the agenda, saying that he would not give up his position.
Yesterday, Spajić announced on the social network X that it is not about specific people for this or that position or the infantile need to say "no" to someone in order to look bigger in the mirror - but about the principles of why someone is appointed to that position and that all procedures must be followed when appointing them.
"When the minister prepares an explanation that was not ready last time, we will consider his proposal and make a statement at the Government session," Spajić wrote on the social network X.
Nevenka Vuksanović said that personnel issues, which in a serious government should be a matter of professional criteria, have once again become a terrain for political upheaval and party recruitment:
"Which clearly shows that party interests come before systemic solutions," Vuksanović assessed.
The Agreement on Parliamentary Support, the Constitution of Legislative and Executive Powers and Political Priorities of the 44th Government and the Parliamentary Majority of the 28th Convocation of the Parliament states that the signatories undertake to be guided by the principles of openness, meritocracy and equal opportunities in conducting personnel policy, taking into account primarily the professional qualities and personal integrity of candidates, with the aim of discontinuing the partitocratic way of governance:
"And that we will strictly adhere to legal regulations and best practices in the appointment of political positions (ministers, state secretaries, 30 percent of ambassadors, up to 50 percent of members of management boards, etc.) and the election of professional positions (general directors of directorates, heads of administrative bodies, management of companies in majority state ownership, other members of management boards, etc.), which will be elected through public and transparent calls, or competitions. The Collegium of Party Presidents will ensure the implementation and compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the Annex to the Agreement," the document states.
Critics and the opposition accuse all ruling parties of continuing the practice of the previous government of the Democratic Party of Socialists, employing thousands of members and supporters of their parties in order to achieve better results in the elections, and they are particularly under attack by the party from the For the Future of Montenegro coalition.
The coalition and other parties deny this, claiming that they are correcting an injustice, stating that these people could not find employment anywhere while the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) was in power.
Tender for Budva beaches questioned?
If the Government of Montenegro does not elect the director of the Public Company for Coastal Zone Management by Monday, the first in a series of tenders for the lease of 96 Budva beaches from Jaz to Buljarica will be called into question.
Mikijelj's four-year term expired yesterday, so as of Monday there is no authorized person who can sign official documents, "Vijesti" was told in Morsko dobro.
A few days ago, Mikijelj formed committees that will monitor the opening of bids on Monday, but the authorizations he gave to his deputy and assistants are no longer in effect as of yesterday.
Since bidders usually submit bids at the last minute, any ambiguities or irregularities that management is responsible for resolving will be difficult to resolve.
Although the coalition “For the Future of Budva” has been awarded the position of director, Spajić's Movement for Europe now practically controls Mikijelj. He recently appointed Dejan Rabrenović, a councilor and key figure in Spajić's party in Budva, as his deputy.
In addition, the President of the Board of Directors of the Coastal Zone is also a member of Europe Now.
Morski dobro explained to Vijesti that the advertisements for the recruitment of 110 workers refer to people who have been working under a contract of employment in the company for two years, and were previously employed on ferries or the Port of Budva. Of the total number, ten jobs refer to those who will work in the protected areas sector.
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