Independent member of parliament in Zeta Svetozar Ulićević and an alleged “group of citizens” from that municipality, led by Predrag Vulević, yesterday asked the Democratic People's Party (DNP) to remain in the state and Podgorica government, ahead of today's session of the party's presidency, at which its leader Milan Knezevic should have proposed leaving the Government and the Capital.
Ulićević and the alleged “group of citizens” signed by Vulević, sent an appeal to Knežević (published on the “IN4S” and “Borba” portals) that a possible decision by the DNP to leave power would harm the interests of Zeta and weaken its voice in institutions. They claim that this would benefit “those who want to marginalize Zeta”, and therefore called on the DNP to remain in power and continue the political struggle “from within”.
"I appeal to you to bear in mind, when making decisions, the responsibility you bear towards the coalition 'For the Future of Montenegro', as well as towards the voters who have shown you trust to represent their interests and remain in positions from which you can do so. Withdrawing from power would be in the interest of those who see Zeta, the lifeblood of Montenegro, as marginalized and without influence in decision-making processes... Zeta, like Montenegro, needs Milan Knežević in a position from which he can fight for the interests of citizens...", wrote Ulićević.
In a letter he signed Predrag Vulević "with a group of citizens", it is stated that because of the support they have been giving Knežević for 20 years, they are asking him to "respect" them.
"Our support was not immediate, nor driven by interest, but long-standing, consistent and sincere. That is precisely why we have the right to say that decisions that directly affect the fate of Zeta must not be made under pressure from those who do not wish Zeta well... The citizens of Zeta today do not have a stronger, louder and more persistent representative in the institutions than you. Your presence in power is not a political comfort, but an obstacle to those who would like decisions to be made again without the people and against the people," it was said.
On December 30 last year, Knežević announced that he would propose that the party leave power in the state and Podgorica, after that day the police in Botun carried out an action that ended a two-month protest by the residents of that Zeta settlement against the plan to build a wastewater treatment plant (collector) there. While the police were carrying out the action, arresting citizens and allowing construction machinery to enter the plot in Botun so that work could begin, Knežević was with the residents of that Zeta settlement who were protesting.
If the DNP were to leave the Podgorica government, its survival would be called into question, while a potential exit from the government could pass without serious consequences, given the high support it has in the state parliament.
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If the DNP leaves the ruling coalition in Podgorica, the majority in the capital's parliament could only be maintained by the entry of opposition parties into it, not counting the strongest - the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which can hardly be part of such an arrangement.
The Capital City Assembly has 59 councilors, and the support of at least 30 of them is required to constitute a city government. The ruling majority in Podgorica consists of 31 councilors - it includes the Europe Now Movement (PES) - Democrats (14 councilors), the parties of the former Democratic Front (of which DNP is a part) with minor partners (13 councilors), and the Movement for Podgorica, close to the head of state. Jakov Milatović (four councilors). With the exit of the DNP, which has four representatives (by agreement with Prava Crna Gora, they have since gained a fourth), from the city government, the ruling coalition would “drop” to 27 representatives, and would have to, if it does not want early elections, seek the support of at least three opposition councilors in order to “survive”.
When it comes to the state level, that is, the Government, it would not be threatened by the possible exit of the DNP, unless Knežević were joined by his long-time partners from the former Democratic Front - New Serbian Democracy (NSD) of the head of parliament Andrije MandićHowever, the question is how realistic this is, considering that Mandić's party did not oppose the construction of a collector in Botun, against which Knežević strongly protested.
On December 31, Mandić announced that his party and Knežević's DNP were coalition partners, but that they were different political organizations, although they were "in solidarity" over the situation in Zeta. He had previously said the day before that the police action against the people of Botunja had threatened peace in Montenegro.
"I stand with Milan Knežević to respect what the citizens of Zeta decided. At this moment, peace and stability are at risk," said Mandić, who said on the last day of last year that he could not chair the Assembly session due to the situation in Botun, after which it did not continue its work that day.
No Mandić negotiations yet
Mandić initiated negotiations on the collector case, which, as announced, will include representatives of the Government, the Capital City, the Municipality of Zeta and the residents of Botun. However, representatives of the Zeta settlement have not yet received an invitation to these talks.
Although it was announced that they would follow after the holidays, several Botun representatives unofficially told "Vijesti" yesterday that there were no calls.
"We need to rest a bit too...", said one of them.
They could not specify whether the Assembly would organize a meeting today, to which representatives of Botun, the Capital City, the Municipality of Zeta, and the Government would be invited.
Even the mayor of Zeta Municipality did not want to continue negotiations. Mihailo Asanovic, who did not respond to calls and messages from the editorial office.
On December 31, the people of Botunja promised not to continue blocking roads in Zeta while negotiations are ongoing. The roads were blocked on December 30 and 31, following a police operation on a plot of land where a wastewater treatment plant is planned to be built.
Police officers responded after Podgorica's municipal police requested assistance. During the operation, 54 people were detained and released after giving statements.
The people of Zeća quickly organized themselves that day (December 30), and within a few hours of the events in Borun, they blocked the roundabout towards the airport, as well as local roads towards Tuzi, the Bar - Podgorica railway...
They announced that they would wait there until the New Year, but withdrew after the DNP leader invited them to do so.
The blockades continued a day later. After Knežević's call, a "march to Botun" was organized, and Zeta utility companies continued to block the road to the airport with their machinery.
After a police cordon prevented them from entering the plot in Botun, the people of Zeća headed to the airport where they tried to "talk" to the Prime Minister. Milojko Spajić, who was officially flying to Vienna that day.
A police cordon stopped them there as well, after which Knežević called on the citizens to disperse. He proposed a new gathering for January 1st, but in the meantime, the people of Botunja had a meeting with the director of the Police Directorate. Lazar Šćepanović, where they agreed to withdraw strong police forces from Botun, while negotiations continue at Mandić's initiative.
"Vijesti" announced in October that the mayor of Podgorica Saša Mujović He asked the Prime Minister and party comrade Spajić to exclude the DNP from the Podgorica government, and he also demanded the termination of the alliance with the DNP at the state level.
According to Vijesti Television, at a meeting with representatives of the ruling parties in Podgorica, Mujović then requested that due to the threats made by the DNP leader regarding the planned construction of a collector in Botun and, as he claimed, the "permanent untruths" he was telling about him (Mujović), he part ways with the DNP at the local level, "although he has nothing against their councilors", but also at the state level.
The Podgorica PES committee unanimously supported Mujović's demands, saying that those who are not in favor of a "responsible relationship" can try to constitute a new majority.
DNP has two members in the Government - Vice President for Infrastructure and Regional Development Milun Zogović and the Minister of Transport Maja Vukicevic.
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