At a meeting between representatives of the parliamentary majority, the Šavnik opposition and citizens who have been blocking the Nikšić-Šavnik-Žabljak road for months, it was agreed that the ruling majority would take on the responsibility of resolving the electoral crisis in that municipality in the north of the country, while citizens and the opposition promised to end the months-long blockade of that road, "Vijesti" has learned unofficially.
According to the newspaper, it was not specified how the ruling majority would resolve the issue of elections in Šavnik, but it was stated at the meeting that it should be "a way that will not cause new turbulence."
"We did not specify a deadline (by which the parliamentary majority) should resolve the problem, but we said that we would do it, just give us time... Some of the citizens said that the problem should be resolved through the Constitutional Court, someone mentioned that it should be resolved by law, compulsory administration was also mentioned...", said the newspaper's interlocutor from one of the ruling parties.
He stated that the constituents of the ruling majority need to "see among themselves how to resolve the Šavnik issue," and when asked whether he would talk to the opposition, he said that he would define it, but that it was expected to happen.
The Šavnik opposition, which is made up of a part of the state government's constituents, has been blocking the Šavnik-Žabljak road for three months in protest against the re-election of Jugoslav Jakić (Democratic Party of Socialists - DPS) as mayor of the municipality and the fact that the elections in that municipality have not been completed.
The leader of the "For the Future of Šavnik" list, Gavrilo Cerović, told Vijesti today that an adequate solution was not found at the meeting, but that the ongoing talks will intensify.
"This means that negotiations should not be delayed without any deadline restrictions, but should be accelerated and made more concrete in order to resolve the political crisis. So far, we have not pushed for a solution at all costs, we have waited two and a half years, but now we have been forced to force the government, the current government and the Committee (for Electoral Reform) in which both the government and the opposition are members, to approach resolving the problem. The process remains open, but the resolution must have a dynamics that will be respected," he states.
Cerović said that the meeting did not specify when the election crisis would be resolved, but that "communication does not stop - the conversation continues and models of solutions for overcoming the crisis are being sought."
Asked what proposals were discussed at the meeting, Cerović replied that all offered solutions were considered.
"All proposals have been considered - the Democrats' proposal, our proposal for an interim administration, as well as the DPS proposal to postpone electoral reform. All proposals are on the table, but none have been fully agreed upon yet. Discussions are taking place, but without any of the pressure that has been present so far," he said.
Some of the ruling parties, led by the Democrats, recently submitted to the Parliament a proposal to amend the Law on the Voters' Register, according to which "election tourists" from Šavnica who deregistered their residence in that municipality after the elections that began in 2022 will not be able to participate in a possible repeat vote at two polling stations, regardless of whether they are on the voter's register.
The President of the Municipality of Žabljak, Radoš Žugić, announced today on Facebook, "that there will no longer be roadblocks in Šavnik."
"Agreement reached. Traffic closures in Šavnik ended. As the mayor of the municipality that directly suffered the consequences, I express great satisfaction that the agreement was reached. The importance of dialogue has once again been demonstrated. Thank you to the parliamentarians and representatives of the citizens of Šavnik who recognized the importance of a broad consensus," he said.
Representatives of the coalition "For the Future of Šavnik" (New Serbian Democracy, Socialist People's Party, Democratic People's Party) and "Let's Go People" (Democrats, United Montenegro, Europe Now Movement) ended the blockade of the Nikšić-Šavnik-Žabljak main road on June 16, because in communication with representatives of the parliamentary majority at the state level, they "recognized signs of readiness for a final resolution to the three-year institutional crisis."
"We are satisfied with any solution if it is in accordance with the law," Milorad Vilotijević from the coalition "For the Future of Šavnik" told "Vijesti" yesterday.
He pointed out that it would suit them to either delete the fake voters or introduce compulsory administration in Šavnik, and then clean up the voter list.
He reiterated that if the solution is "favorable", he will end the blockade, saying that they had suspended it for four days "as a sign of goodwill".
The elections in Šavnik began on October 23, 2022, when they were held in 13 more municipalities, but were not completed because members of the polling stations from the opposition coalition "For the Future of Šavnik", led by the former Democratic Front, did not allow some of the newly registered voters to vote, because, they claim, they were copied to support the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).
At two polling stations, in the Municipality building and in the village of Kruševice, where 541 voters are eligible to vote, voting took place nine times, the last time on December 18, 2022, when the elections were again suspended, after which the Municipal Election Commission there could not agree on repeating them.
So far, dozens of people have been prosecuted before judicial authorities for events related to the elections in Šavnik, which included numerous incidents, including physical clashes.
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