Votes are "hunted" with benefits for families - official campaign ahead of the elections in Nikšić

The official campaign exists because ruling parties still expect direct benefits from it in elections, even though such practices are no longer crucial to their election results.

This was assessed for "Vijesti" by the director of the Action for Social Justice (ASP). Ines Mrdovic, commenting on the fact that the ruling parties are taking moves ahead of the elections in Nikšić that could be qualified as an official campaign, thereby trying to secure an advantage for themselves before going to the polls.

In the case of Nikšić, there were several such examples. One of the most striking was the decision of the first man of that municipality Marko Kovačević (New Serbian Democracy) that last week with a representative of the company “BIG Fashion” Lev Vajs, signs a land purchase agreement for the construction of that shopping center in the town near Trebjes.

A week ago, Kovačević boasted that he had signed conclusions for the payment of benefits for families with three or more minor children for January and February, saying in a statement that the Municipality of Nikšić continues "with the creation of more favorable living conditions" for its fellow citizens.

Also, the first man of Nikšić, with the Minister of Transport Majom Vukićević (Democratic People's Party), last week he also visited the reconstruction works on the Zaborje - Jasenovo Polje section, on the Šćepan Polje - Nikšić road, and at the beginning of March, during a meeting with the president of the Water Polo and Swimming Federation of Montenegro Nikola Milić announced the formation of the water polo club "Sutjeska"

Among the more "high-profile" examples of official campaigning is the move by the head of the local parliament. Nemanja Vuković (Democrats) to, on behalf of the municipality, present the Football Club "Čelik" with a donation of 25 thousand euros.

A little over two weeks ago, he and Kovačević, accompanied by other local officials, opened a parking lot at the New Cemetery below Trebjesa.

The Europe Now Movement (PES) was not immune to similar practices. Although in mid-February he was not the leader of their list, but it was speculated that he would be, the acting director of the Nikšić General Hospital Zoran Mrkic then, with Kovačević and the state secretary at the Ministry of Health Mirjana Vlahović Andrijašević, visited the works on the adaptation of the kitchen in that health facility. He said at the time that the project was financed from the government's capital budget and thanked the Municipality for providing the Sports Center restaurant while the hospital is being reconstructed, while Kovačević announced that the parking problem in front of the hospital would be resolved.

The leader of Nikšić boasted on social media about the reconstruction of several streets, and announced other infrastructure projects.

"Vijesti" asked Nova, Demokrate and PES why they were participating in the official campaign, bearing in mind that some of them criticized such practices when they were implemented by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) government, but the answer came only from PES, which is headed by the Prime Minister. Milojko Spajic.

"In cases where PES members, who are also public officials, participate in local election campaign activities, they do so exclusively after working hours," they said.

Spajić also joined the official campaign, who yesterday, at the Prime Minister's Office in the Parliament, said that he would offer the United Arab Emirates a project on Krupačko Lake, which would involve mixed-use, tourist-oriented real estate and a solar power plant. He also said that the Municipality of Nikšić would have a partner in the Government for the "Sunny City" project, which involves the construction of apartments, and which is being promoted in the campaign by the coalition led by Kovačević's party. He stated that the executive branch would also be involved in the implementation of this idea through the construction of facilities of general interest, namely schools, kindergartens, and promenades.

Ines Mrdović assesses that the ruling parties are resorting to official campaigns, even though they criticized them when they were in opposition, because they are "without scruples" and "none of them will miss the opportunity to use the pre-election period for their own promotion."

"It is naked cynicism to criticize the official campaign while you are in opposition, and when you become the government you 'forget' what is acceptable and what is not... The practice of the official campaign exists because the parties in power still expect direct benefits from it. However, in their 'blindness' to power, they do not see that it does not bring any particular benefit today. Whether a kitchen will open in a hospital or not, whether a minister will appear at the opening of a road, is no longer crucial. Of the former DPS electoral mechanisms, employment still plays a significant role today," the newspaper's interlocutor states.

She claims that the above examples from Nikšić can be classified as official campaigning, and that to prevent it, an electoral reform is needed that would prohibit it in a legally precise manner not only in the pre-election period, but also for a longer period during the election year.

"It could also be useful to organize local elections in one day, so that we citizens can finally be free from constant electoral tensions and various influences. If necessary, a ban on these practices could be criminalized and thus ultimately solve the problem through the threat of punishment. However, it all depends on the parties, and as far as we can see, none of them want to cut the branch on which they have all been sitting together for years," Mrdović concludes.

The campaign also includes the story of "Lora"

The commemoration of the victims of the 1999 NATO bombing, held on Monday, did not go without making election promises. After laying wreaths, Kovačević announced the construction of a museum for the victims of the Split "Lora" camp.

Mrdović believes that this act can absolutely be viewed as part of the campaign.

"The current mayor has not been in office for a month or two, but for several years, and he had time to talk about the museum. However, he is using the current media moment to send a message," she says.