Bečić: DPS hindered Montenegro's European path because it did not like the rule of law, Macron praised the progress of this government

The leader of the Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Bečić said that his political opponents, together with, as he stated, criminal structures, aim to discredit the public and create the impression that "everyone is the same", but that recent messages from European officials from the EU-Western Balkans Summit, held last week in Tivat, are proof that this is not true.

"That's exactly why we speak to citizens in the language of facts. It can't be the same, because today's officials have neither taken apartments, nor have they taken housing loans from the state, nor is Montenegro's debt today 105 percent of GDP, it has already been halved, nor is unemployment today at the level it was when they were in power, but, of course, it has been significantly reduced. We are simply pointing out that the maximum is being given to the extent of what is possible and what is the difficult legacy of the past," said Bečić.

The Democratic leader stated that it is not the same when it comes to European integration, despite criticism coming from, as he said, the critics on duty.

"Look at the messages from European officials. This government found the European integration process completely blocked two and a half years ago, and then, according to French President Macron, the 44th government has traveled a path that is exceptional, even more successful than could have been expected," he said.

Bečić assessed that the previous government, led by the DPS, hindered Montenegro's European path because it did not want key chapters related to the rule of law to be opened.

"It is no coincidence that Đukanović claimed towards the end of the former regime's mandate that the European Union was not a young bride to be chased. Why? Because he never wanted to bring Montenegro closer to the European Union, because he knew that he had to close Chapters 23 and 24, that institutions had to be strengthened, that what has been happening in Montenegro for the last two and a half years in terms of the fight against crime, daily attacks on both the Škaljari and Kavača drug cartels, and on all criminal organizations, must happen," said the leader of the Democrats and Deputy Prime Minister.

He added that, in his opinion, the current government has managed to unblock the European path in the past two and a half years, make progress in negotiations, and close several chapters.

"This government has managed in two and a half years to unblock the European path, to obtain the historic IBAR in chapters 23 and 24, to close 11 negotiation chapters, and to bring the work to a close in almost all other chapters," concluded Bečić.