European Union: Ruling majority in Podgorica does not exist, early elections must be held

The European Union sent an initiative to all councilor clubs to shorten the mandate of the capital's Assembly.

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From the press conference, Photo: Luka Zeković
From the press conference, Photo: Luka Zeković
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

European Union councilor Miloš Mašković said that they had sent an initiative to all councilor clubs to shorten the mandate of the capital's Assembly.

At a press conference, he said that early local elections must be held in Podgorica.

"The ruling majority, which was created by deceiving citizens, no longer has legitimacy, even though its legitimacy was questionable from the start... From 31, they have been reduced to 26 councilors," said Mašković, claiming that the ruling majority "was created by deceiving the electoral will."

Maskovic
Maskovicphoto: Luka Zeković

"The damaged inter-party relations in the capital have made it impossible for the coalition to survive and for the city to develop further, which has slowed down anyway. If this continues, the consequences will be felt later," he said, adding that "The basic postulates of democracy require that early elections be held in these conditions."

He said that citizens do not deserve to be held hostage by any politics or party.

Maskovic
Maskovicphoto: Luka Zeković

Mašković said that the initiative to shorten the mandate of the local parliament is the only solution to get out of the crisis.

"Another solution is a possible forced administration, or preventing citizens from expressing their views on the newly emerging political situation."

Mugoša: If the majority does not have support in parliament, it has no legitimacy to exercise power

When asked by journalists who they expect support for this initiative from, Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša said that their initiative is "a way to normalize political processes."

"What happened is just the end of a continuity of problems within the majority. Today we offered something to all councilor clubs, because politics is conducted in terms of principles. If the majority does not have support in parliament, it does not have the legitimacy to exercise power and it is not clear to me how someone who does not have a majority in parliament thinks they are exercising power. We have an incredible phenomenon - someone who loses the majority says they will propose decisions. Does this mean that anyone who loses the majority will still be in power. Is it better for people with legitimacy or without it to be in power until June 2027?" Mugoša asked.

He said that, in this regard, he expects support from everyone.

"I would not like certain political entities to perceive this as a daily political provocation, which it is not. We want to talk to everyone and come to a solution. We do not want to be a 'bypass' for anyone. Let everyone decide as they wish. The citizens are the ones who will assess," he said.

Mugosha
Mugoshaphoto: Luka Zeković

Mugoša pointed out that the European Union's initiative needs to be supported by 20 councilors.

He did not directly answer how long he would wait for the other parties, but that "the position of the other parties will be known very soon."

When asked by "Vijesti" what if the Democratic People's Party (DNP) and Free Montenegro do not support the initiative, Mugoša replied that it is up to everyone to assess how they want to vote, but also for citizens to make decisions based on that.

The president of the Free Montenegro Party, Vladislav Dajković, said earlier that the party does not want to overthrow Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović together with the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS). Previously, the DNP councilors' club announced that they do not intend to participate, together with DPS "and its satellites", in the removal of Mujović and the shortening of the mandate of the capital's Assembly.

"I call on all political entities to take a stand towards these initiatives," Mugoša emphasized.

Mugosha
Mugoshaphoto: Luka Zeković

When asked by reporters how he would comment on Mujović's statements about relations within the majority, Mugoša refused to comment.

"I think that in politics we have to take into account, if at some point we don't have the partner thanks to whom we came to power, about future relations," said the president.

He added that even when the Social Democratic Party (SDP) was splitting into two parties, he said that they had to be careful what they said, and that he was happy that today the SD and SDP are cooperating.

Mugoša said that he is not a supporter of re-compositions.

"We owe solutions to the citizens, not to daily political impulses. That majority was not natural then, but it was formed. Now they don't have it."

"Both airports should not be given under concession"

When asked whether he was for or against giving Montenegrin airports under concession, Mugoša said that a check was needed, and that the last one was in 2018 or 2019.

"This process has been going on for six and a half years and has been discredited on many grounds. It is not clear to me that anyone is implementing 2026 under the same conditions as 2018."

He said that they are against both airports being put under concession, but that they are open to discussions about various models.

Mugoša pointed out that he has scheduled a session of the Parliamentary Committee for Economy, Finance and Budget to discuss the topic.

About the Central Election Commission

When asked what would happen if the Central Election Commission (CEC) was not formed, he said that he hoped that elections would be held at the next call.

Mugoša pointed out that he had asked his colleagues in parliament to adopt a temporary solution so that the CEC could function, because employees of the State Election Commission do not receive salaries and the MP who resigned cannot be considered for the same, due to the resignation of the SEC president.

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