Minister of Education, Science and Innovation and member of the Presidency of the Europe Now Movement, Anđela Jakšić Stojanović, denied claims by Democratic People's Party (DNP) president Milan Kneževiž that she has had any communication with DPS vice president Jevto Eraković regarding potential cooperation.
Last night, Knežević, while appearing on TV Prva, said that Prime Minister and PES leader Milojko Spajić met with DPS president Danijela Živković back in December, and that in January Jakšić Stojanović had a meeting with Eraković, at which they allegedly discussed modalities of cooperation in the form of a concentration government.
"And these are well-known things within the coalition and everyone is playing dumb. Spajić has better communication with Živković than with me, who supported his government. You don't want your chair to hurt you, but your conscience. When you look at the composition of this government, half of it is DPS and SD members. I voted for such a government because we had a coalition agreement that provided the basis for the realization of our ideological principles and goals," said Knežević.
Jakšić Stojanović stated in her response that Knežević's public statements and political moves "objectively contribute to strengthening the narrative of the Democratic Party of Socialists about the possibility of returning to executive power, especially at a time when such statements are interpreted by DPS members as destabilizing the current government."
"In this context, one gets the impression that Mr. Knežević is choosing DPS as an ally in the fight against the government he was in until yesterday, while DPS is obviously accepting him as the new leader of the opposition. Statements about alleged communication between representatives of the Europe Now Movement and the Democratic Party of Socialists, as well as the claim that I have any communication with DPS Vice President Jevto Eraković regarding potential cooperation, are absolutely incorrect and unfounded," said Jakšić Stojanović.
She added that she is aware of Knežević's political need to explain to the public and his voters certain political decisions and positions he has been advocating for a long period of time:
"Including those who are not fully aligned with the declaratively supported goal of accelerating Montenegro's European path. However, it is unacceptable that in this context, incorrect claims are made that link my name and the party I belong to with alleged political agreements that do not exist. Therefore, I once again clearly emphasize that neither I personally, nor the Europe Now Movement, have any contacts or communication that Mr. Knežević is talking about. I also emphasize that neither I, nor the party I belong to, in any way contribute to the disruption of relations within the parliamentary majority. On the contrary, the Europe Now Movement remains committed to the stability of the parliamentary majority and responsible political action in the interest of citizens and the European future of Montenegro," said Jakšić Stojanović.
She called on Knežević, instead of media appearances, to "focus on achieving Montenegro's strategic goal - membership in the European Union, in accordance with the already accepted and signed principles defined in Barometer 26" through joint and responsible action.
Todorović: You changed your jersey and moved from DPS to PES, there's no need to get upset
DNP spokesperson Jovana Todorović reacted to Jakšić Stojanović's statement, stating that Knežević "responsibly and publicly reiterates once again" that the Minister of Education had a conversation with Eraković in January of this year.
"Where you considered the options for a concentration government. And that your president and prime minister Milojko Spajić has intensive communication with the president of DPS, Danijela Živković. Besides, Ms. Jakšić, we do not see anything controversial in that, because you are just another person who changed his jersey and moved from DPS to PES, so there is no need to get upset," Todorović stated, among other things..
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