Vice President of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) Dragoslav Šcekić, indirectly said that it was questionable whether the head of that party could Vladimir Jokovic to run for a third term at its helm.
Responding to a question from "Vijesti" about his view that Joković did not rule out that possibility, even though the SNP Statute limits the position of party president to two four-year terms, Šćekić told the newspaper yesterday that the Statute is "very clear" and that, if there are doubts in the interpretation of some of the obligations from that document, it is up to the party's Statutory Commission to state its opinion on the matter.
"The Statutory Commission is a body formed within our political organization, and deals exclusively with the interpretation of the Statute. I would leave it to the members of the commission to interpret and express their opinion on this issue, should it be on the agenda," he said.
In early April last year, Šćekić announced that he would run for the leadership of the SNP. According to their Statute, candidates are proposed by local committees, and then the municipal committees send these proposals to the party headquarters. After it receives statements from the candidates that they accept the candidacies, the Main Board (GO) determines their list a few days before the Congress.
The Statute also states that the same person can be the party leader for a maximum of two consecutive terms. This provision was included in the Statute at the SNP congress held at the end of July 2021.
Joković was then elected as the leader of the SNP for the second time, and the first at the 2017 congress.
A week ago, on the show "Free Zone" on Prva Television, he announced that he was not considering running for the upcoming congress, which is scheduled to take place during the summer, but that "various interpretations are emerging" about whether he could run for a third term.
"... Some say: 'You can because (the amended Statute) came into effect then (2021) and it must go forward'. Someone interprets it this way: what would have happened if Joković had been the party president twice by then? So, if I had served two terms before this Statute was adopted... So, if it was retroactive, the congress would have failed and the president would not have been elected. Someone says that if the public interest was not declared, no legal act, and that can only be laws, can be retroactive. If they are not retroactive, I could run for office on that basis," Joković assessed.
"We know who split the party"
Commenting on these claims, Šćekić told "Vijesti" that the congress held four years ago "could not fail because several candidates were proposed", including himself, but that, as he added, he rejected the candidacy "in favor of the good atmosphere and unity of the party, but also in favor of Mr. Joković".
"I believe that certain facts and circumstances must be taken into account, that the work and results must be respected, but also that the voices of sympathizers and members of the SNP, in addition to some members of the party's organs, must be listened to," he underlined.
Joković also said in the show on Prva that he thinks that "someone young" should lead the SNP, and that it is important that the party is led by "someone who has great breadth, someone who can bring people together, someone who can tolerate...".
"... Not in any case someone who would quarrel with half the people or someone who would eventually cause many to leave the party," he said.
When asked how he interprets that assessment, and whether he believes it is directed at him, considering that he is the only one who has announced his candidacy so far, Šćekić replied that he does not agree with Joković's statement and that he assumes that his party colleague "meant in general terms."
"My breadth, vision and ability to bring people together were seen in 2014, 2018 and on August 30, 2020 in Berane, with the victory over the previous regime, but also later, and throughout Montenegro. My support, breadth and power to bring people together were also seen in 2017 at the congress, when we Dragan Ivanovic"...one of the most important people in our party, proposed, gathered and voted for the current president Joković. Throughout the SNP's existence, it is known who worked to split the party, but also to send bad messages to the public," the newspaper's interlocutor stated.
Asked whether Joković's messages speak of the existence of conflicts in the SNP, and whether he fears a new split in the party, Šćekić replied that he would not comment on the party leader's statements, nor on whether there are conflicts within it.
"What I personally advocate for is unity and gathering, growth and development, to restore the glory and success that the SNP once had," he said.
The SNP is part of the government Milojko Spajić, in which Joković is the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Water Management, and Šćekić is the Minister of Sports and Youth.
That party has two representatives in the state parliament, which is a modest result compared to the mandates they had in the early 2000s, when they were the strongest opposition actor.
The SNP was formed in 1998, through a split in the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), and has since gone through several internal party divisions.
The founder and first leader of the party was the former president of Montenegro Momir Bulatović, and the SNP was also led by Predrag Bulatović (from 2000 to 2006) i Srdjan Milic (from 2006 to 2017).
Šćekić: SNP must no longer fight for the census
When asked what his plans are regarding his candidacy, when he will start the campaign and what promises he will base it on, Šćekić replied that he announced his candidacy as a request from SNP members and supporters, with whom he communicates daily in person and via social media, and that he did so based on the opinion of a large part of the members of the party's bodies at all levels.
"My campaign has been going on for 27 years, i.e. since the formation of the SNP," he stated.
Šćekić assessed that the party must not be a closed system that functions only in election cycles, adding that decisions must be made by its bodies, whose jurisdiction is prescribed by the Statute.
"The SNP must no longer fight for a census. We need modernization, strengthening internal democracy, and a clearly defined vision for the future. That is why I am running for president of the SNP, with the aim of making the party more transparent, accountable, and open to all members. I believe that only through joint work, mutual respect, and active participation can we restore the strength of the SNP and make it a leader on the political scene," he said.
The "Vijesti" interlocutor announced that his program will be based "on key principles" that will "guide" his actions - transparency, inclusiveness, and direct management.
"I believe that decisions should not be made in narrow circles, but with the full participation of all party members," he added.
The SNP, according to him, must become a modern, dynamic party open "to new ideas and new people", with, as he said, respect for all its members and supporters "who have made an immeasurable contribution so far".
"This combination should be a winning combination. The upcoming congress should be a congress of the revival of the SNP in the spirit of unity, as it was in 2021, but it will certainly also depend on the decision of the other proposed candidates and their personal ambitions," Šćekić concluded.
Joković: I never argued with Šćekić
In an interview with "Prvo", Joković also stated that Šćekić was not at the recent celebration of the 27th anniversary of the SNP.
He stated that he is in communication with his party colleague, and that Šćekić participates in the work of the SNP's Central Committee.
"I never argued with Šćekić," claims Joković.
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