The resignations of the members of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) in the Cetinje parliament will not significantly affect the work of that body, but they have undermined the effort invested to force the state to take measures regarding the security situation in the capital, the editor-in-chief of Radio Television (RTV) Cetinje told "Vijesti". Mladen Zadrima.
He said that the resignations will deepen divisions that, he claims, are least needed at this moment, adding that the DPS representatives would have achieved a better effect if they had submitted their resignations in the Parliament of Montenegro.
"Although it is not easy to give up the privilege of 1.800 euros per month from the state treasury, compared to the 150 euros of a councilor's salary," Zadrima said.
President of Cetinje DPS, Oscar Hutter, announced yesterday at a session of the capital's Assembly that the party's councilors are collectively resigning and returning their mandates to the citizens. He stated that this decision was made due to the deteriorated security situation in the city and "institutional inability to provide security to citizens." Huter said that they had "tried in every way to achieve unity."
"Our role in parliament is meaningless, because we cannot get answers from the addresses to which we sent our requests. After almost three years since the first tragedy, the local parliament has not managed to come up with a single answer, to have anyone acknowledge us, let alone implement our requests," Huter told RTV Cetinje.
The Cetinje parliament adopted nine conclusions at its session on January 10, which, among other things, demand the resignation or dismissal of the entire security sector leadership as an act of taking responsibility for the tragedies that occurred in that city in August 2022 and January of this year, in which 23 people, including four children, died. The two-week deadline, which they gave the Prime Minister at the session on April 11, Milojko Spajić to submit a written response to the conclusions expired yesterday.
The Assembly cannot remain without councilors.
The Law on the Election of Councilors and Representatives stipulates that if a councilor resigns, his or her seat will be filled by the next candidate from the same electoral list. If all candidates from the DPS electoral list refuse to take up their seats, those seats in the local parliament would go to the lists with the next highest quotient, i.e., first to the list that won the most votes in the previous elections after DPS, and so on.
A lawyer with whom "Vijesti" spoke unofficially explained that this means that DPS councilor positions can be filled by councilors from other party lists, if they (DPS) say they don't want to, because it is impossible for the Parliament or Municipal Assembly to "be left without MPs or councilors."
When asked whether the candidates from the DPS electoral list who are running for councilors will also resign, Oskar Huter told "Vijesti" that it is solely a matter of their own decision.
In the Cetinje elections held in December 2021, the DPS lost power in the capital after 17 years. They then won 14 mandates, the Social Democratic Party (SDP) eight, the Civic Movement (GP) URA four, the Democrats three, the Old Guard of the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro (LSCG) three, and the Social Democrats (SD) and the Liberal Party (LP) one each.
Although they were on the verge of an agreement with the SDP to form an administration, the negotiations failed. The DPS was three mandates short of remaining in power (the parliament has 33 seats). The new government was formed by the SDP and the Old Guard of the LSCG, and they are supported from the parliamentary benches by the councilors of the GP URA and the Democrats.
In September 2024, four councilors left DPS, Sonja Radojicic, Alexa Bastac, Miloš Raznatović i Stefan Vuletic, who formed their own club "For a European Capital".
Đurašković: Cheap advertising before the elections
Mayor of Cetinje Nikola Đurašković (SDP) announced that the resignations of DPS councilors are cheap advertising ahead of the elections, which are scheduled to be held in the capital city towards the end of the year.
"So, resigning a few months before the end of the mandate is nothing more than the beginning of the election campaign. Instead of unity, fighting for the city and its citizens, and supporting us to change things for the better in our Cetinje, they have once again confirmed that they are only interested in elections and the fight for power," Đurašković wrote on Facebook.
He pointed out that it was strange that the entire DPS did not resign from the state parliament, which, he said, unlike the Cetinje and city administrations, is responsible for security in the country, including in Cetinje.
"However, regardless of everything, I once again call for unity and the fight for Cetinje, as I have done throughout my mandate. A hand is extended, always for the good of Cetinje," said Đurašković.
Similar assessments were made by SDP councilors in the local parliament, Nina Milosevic i Anna Lipovina.
"Despite public messages about Cetinje's unity due to the tragedies that have befallen us as a city, we have unfortunately found ourselves in a situation of open politicization by individuals who have done everything to prevent Cetinje's unity and togetherness from happening," Milošević stated.
Lipovina said the resignations were "a staged play." "Another attempt to create the illusion of responsibility ahead of the election. Resigning at the end of a term, when everything is already over, is not an act of courage. It is politicking," she said.
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