Čelanović: Conditions have been met for shortening the mandate of the Kotor Municipal Assembly and calling elections

European Union representative Miloš Čelanović claims that the conditions have been met for shortening the mandate of the Kotor Municipal Assembly and calling elections.

"The European Union warns the public that in the municipality of Kotor, not even a month after the constitution of the Municipal Assembly, a Mayor has not been elected, which is a direct violation of Article 56 of the Law on Local Self-Government. Kotor has once again remained in a state of institutional blockade and de facto disempowered, without a clear and legitimate local government," the statement reads.

This article of the law, he explains, clearly stipulates that the mayor must be elected no later than 30 days from the date of the constitution of the local parliament.

"Since that did not happen, the legal conditions have been met to, at the proposal of the Government or at least one third of the councilors, make a decision to shorten the mandate of the Municipal Assembly, and thus to call new local elections."

Democratic Party official Vladimir Jokić was elected in March last year as the mayor of the Municipality of Kotor, after being nominated by the old convocation of the Municipal Assembly.

Čelanović said that "the fact that there is actually no parliamentary majority in Kotor that is capable of assuming responsibility for running the city is particularly worrying" today.

"Instead of a clear political platform and agreements in the interest of citizens, we are witnessing prolonged negotiations, political bargaining and calculations, while the time provided for by law is irrevocably passing. There is too much bargaining, and too little responsibility and too little time."

He believes that Kotor today does not have a functional government with full legitimacy, but rather a "state of political blockade" that directly harms citizens, local government and the daily functioning of the city. A city that has enormous tourist, cultural and economic importance must not be held hostage to irresponsible political agreements behind closed doors, he says.

The European Union believes, as he said, that the law cannot be interpreted according to daily political needs and that the rules must be respected equally in every municipality in Montenegro.

"Any other course of action would set a dangerous precedent and further undermine citizens' trust in the institutions of the system. Therefore, we call on the authorities to immediately initiate the procedures provided for by law, in order to shorten the mandate of the Kotor Municipal Assembly and enable citizens to elect a new, stable and responsible local government in the elections. Kotor deserves functional governance and political responsibility, not improvisation, trading in functions and violation of the law. The European Union will continue to insist on respecting the legal order and protecting the interests of the citizens of Kotor," the statement reads.