The political crisis in Pljevlja is deepening due to the disrupted relations between the executive and legislative branches, and the key dispute concerns the communication and cooperation of the Mayor of Pljevlja, Dario Vraneš, with the parliamentary majority.
The Europe Now Movement (PES) says that without redefining relations within the government and finding a new solution for the mayor, there will be no budget adoption, while at the same time rejecting any cooperation with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).
The Municipal Assembly session, which was supposed to discuss the budget proposal for this year, was postponed twice due to a lack of quorum, and due to its failure to be held, the local government entered the New Year with temporary funding.
A few days before the December session, the municipal boards of PES and Democrats called on the leadership of New Serbian Democracy (NSD) to urgently initiate coalition consultations and launch the process of redefining relations within the local government, before the municipal session is held.
PES councilor Radoman Andesilić said in the show Aktuelno on Television Pljevlja that the party will not support the DPS initiative to dismiss Vraneš and that he does not want any political cooperation with that party.
"The Europe Now Movement will not support the initiative of the Democratic Party of Socialists, although in the previous period there has been an evident lack of institutional cooperation between the mayor and the parliamentary majority," said Andesilić.
He pointed out that the municipal budget "can only be adopted after the dismissal of Dario Vranes."
"The budget must be agreed upon between the coalition partners, and not be passed unilaterally by the executive branch," said Andesilić, claiming that relations with the coalition partners are at an enviable level and that they have no problems in reaching agreements with them.
"The specific problem is the relationship between the legislative and executive branches, that is, the mayor with the parliamentary majority. We do not want any cooperation with the DPS. Our problem is not the opposition, but the functioning of the government," said Andesilić.
He pointed out that PES believes that New Serbian Democracy should propose a new candidate for mayor, open to cooperation and agreement with coalition partners.
"If that doesn't happen, we are ready to leave the local government. It's all in the hands of Mr. Milan Lekić whether he will reform the government in Pljevlja," Andesilić said.
PES remained in the local parliament with three councilors after councilor Milomir Drobnjak left earlier, who is currently running as an independent councilor. Even without PES's support, the budget could be adopted, given that the parliamentary majority consists of 24 councilors, and 18 are needed to make valid decisions. However, Democratic Montenegro has also set out its conditions for supporting the budget.
Democrats councilor Božica Cvijetić said that the party is requesting that the proposed budget be withdrawn from the agenda and that it be given a seven-day deadline to be corrected so that each constituent of the government has the opportunity to present their idea.
She said that Nova has the right to independently decide on the selection of its personnel and that they will respect their choice in accordance with the coalition agreement.
"All decisions must be made within the ruling majority and no cooperation with DPS is out of the question," said Cvijetić.
She stated that the President of the Municipal Assembly, Jovana Tošić, who is a Democrat, will schedule the continuation of the session as soon as an agreement is reached.
She also pointed out that they are against the introduction of compulsory administration and early local elections.
"That would be a defeat for local democracy," said Cvijetić, adding that they demanded that a coalition agreement be signed before the budget is adopted, which would resolve contentious issues, including the appointments of "those of us who have experienced a political crisis" and resolve the situation at the National Library, where employees are demanding the removal of director Bojana Đačić.
"I believe that the solution to all problems is dialogue and open communication, which we insist on. Our biggest problem is communication between the executive and legislative branches, and that is what needs to be worked on the most," said Cvijetić.
The head of the New Serbian Democracy councilors' caucus, Marko Potparić, admitted on the same show that there is a misunderstanding between the Nova councilors' caucus and the mayor of the municipality, Dario Vraneš, who is their party comrade.
"The councilors' club has so far consistently supported all initiatives that were in the interest of citizens, but certain decisions were delivered to us at the last minute, without the possibility of serious discussion," he said.
He added that the main cause of the crisis is poor communication, but also the attempts of individuals to, as he said, build personal promotion and not respect the party's positions.
"People who do not follow the party's voice must return to the framework of agreement and dialogue," said Potparić, without specifying how many of the ten Nova councilors are in disagreement with Vranes, stating only that it is the majority.
When asked by the show's host Milivoj Irić whether he would launch an initiative to remove Dario Vraneš, Potparić replied that such an initiative does not exist and has not been launched.
"The government crisis exists and is ongoing, but we are looking for a solution that is best for the city. I am confident that we will overcome this crisis," he said, adding that he expects the Municipal Assembly session to continue in February and the budget to be adopted, and that talks with coalition partners are underway.
"A solution is being sought. The problem is very complicated and very difficult, and negotiations will certainly take time, but I hope that the parliament will be held in February and that the budget will be adopted. I am convinced that an agreement will be reached between the coalition partners," Potparić stressed. He said that the party ruled out the possibility of any cooperation with the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists.
Božidar Bajić from the Movement for Pljevlja, which is also a member of the ruling majority, assessed that the government in Pljevlja is operating without a clear coalition agreement, which, as he said, is the main cause of the crisis.
"If there had been an agreement, we wouldn't have a government crisis today," said Bajić.
He also said that their party is against the dismissal of Vranes.
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