DNP will support Perić for the presidency of the Capital City Assembly

The Democratic People's Party (DNP) announced that it will support Srđan Perić for the position of President of the Capital City Assembly in a technical mandate.

As stated, they will do this in order to "avoid the introduction of compulsory administration, which was the intention of parts of the former parliamentary majority all along."

"Although we clearly stated during the talks in the previous days that our sole goal is to prevent the introduction of compulsory administration in Podgorica, and that we will not agree to any blackmail or conditioning, because the DNP is not returning to any form of coalition action, we were faced with a series of conditions, blackmail and deliberate delay. Thus, the PES representatives ultimately asked us to support Saša Mujović and his Report on Work, which would represent a violation of all our principles and tenets, both in a human and political sense," the DNP statement states.

According to them, Saša Mujović is the main cause of the crisis at the state and local levels, which resulted in the DNP's withdrawal from the Government and the cancellation of support for this, as they said, long-standing illegitimate mayor of Podgorica.

"Asking DNP councilors to support Saša Mujović and his work report is like asking an arsonist to give a thank-you note to the man whose house he set on fire. There is no position at the state or local level for which we are prepared to annul our principled positions, from which we have not deviated even a millimeter. Obviously, this was not clear to our former coalition partners from PES, as they acted from a position of arrogance and the premise that DNP is ready to do anything for the seat, as they do at all levels of government. Precisely because of the fact that we are not all the same, DNP has decided to support Srđan Perić for the Speaker of the Parliament in a technical mandate, in order to stop the forced administration," the statement reads.

The DNP added that with this act they protected the interests of the citizens of Podgorica who do not want forced administration in their city.

"...Which would allow one man, Saša Mujović, despotic powers without control and continuous abuse of official position. This further means that the DNP councilors' club remains committed to the previously proclaimed positions that by voting for Srđan Perić, we are not obligated to any political entity or coalition in the Capital City, but that in our further work we will be guided exclusively by the interests of the citizens of Podgorica, who have long deserved better and more responsible government," it states.

They also said that Podgorica and its citizens must be above all else.

"...No man or chair can be more important than the interests of this city. Unfortunately, some have thought that the life of Podgorica begins and ends with them, thereby confirming the immaturity and frivolity that have brought this city into a state of political and administrative coma. It is our duty to wake Podgorica from this coma. Not a step back!", the statement concludes.