The Ministry of Public Administration has withdrawn the documentation from the Municipal Assembly, but it is still waiting for the documents on the legality of the work of the detained president of the Municipality of Budva, Milo Božović, to be delivered from the Cabinet of the Municipality of Budva, which were requested by the Minister of Public Administration Maraš Dukaj.
Božović was arrested in mid-April last year by order of the Special State Prosecutor's Office, on the charge of being part of a police drug cartel that smuggled three loads of cocaine. Božović denied it...
Since he was in prison, Božović made numerous decisions, signed contracts worth millions, and appointed the president of the parliament as his main coordinator, who managed the local administration. Nikola Jovanović. For a full ten and a half months, official documents, with the approval of the High Court, have been delivered from the Municipality to Božović in Spuž for certification...
They're looking for evidence
Marash Dukaj requested a list of regulations and other acts that the President of the Municipality submitted to the Municipal Assembly for adoption in 2023, with information on which acts were adopted and which were not, with an explanation as to why they were not.
"List of laws, other regulations, general acts executed by the President of the Municipality in 2023, as well as acts, information and other documents that confirm the activities of the President of the Municipality in 2023. Information on the strategic development plan of the Municipality of Budva, which will contain data on whether it is strategic current plan, if not whether the president prepared and proposed a new strategic development plan. Information on the implementation of the strategic development plan, as well as all acts that have resulted and confirm the implementation of the strategic plan. A list of all current development plans and programs, with information and acts that confirm the implementation of said plans and programs. "A list of all current development plans and programs that have expired and have not been adopted, with an explanation as to why they have not been adopted," requested Dukaj.
The minister also requested that a list of all strategic documents of state importance implemented by the Municipality of Budva be submitted, as well as the documents that the president passed in the process of their implementation.
"All acts passed by the President of the Municipality with the aim of directing and harmonizing the work and services of local administration and public services in order to more efficiently perform their functions and provide better quality public services. All acts passed by the President of the Municipality in the process of administrative supervision over the work of organs and services, and public services. Report on the property condition of the Municipality of Budva. All the acts that the President of the Municipality passed in accordance with Article 59 in 2023, as well as the acts that he submitted to the Municipal Assembly for adoption", are the documents that, among other things, Dukaj requested.
Radović: Who decided which papers would go to Spuž for signature
Leader of Budva Democrats Krsto Radović tells "Vijesti" that the Administrative Inspection should and had a reason to come half a year ago...
"We cannot claim with certainty whether there were illegal actions within the administration, but we can confirm that there were a lot of illogical and questionable proposals, solutions and decisions. Also, we can confirm the usurpation of the executive power by the president of the SO Nikola Jovanović, as well as his extrasystemic behavior. I am sure that there are a large number of antidated documents, there is also a big issue of sorting the documentation and sending it to Spuž, were blank payment slips and papers sent, who is the one who decides on that? There are many questions and doubts to which I hope we will get answers..." Radović pointed out.
According to him, the best option is to introduce forced administration and call elections.
"And what exactly was done in the Municipality will certainly be best seen when the new majority comes to govern the city..." Radović stressed.
Rađenović: The laws did not foresee such situations
President of the GP URA Budva board Blazo Radjenovic said that if the administrative supervision carried out by the Ministry of Public Administration shows that Božović has not carried out tasks within his competence for more than six months in the part of ensuring the execution of the law, the strategic development plan or strategic acts of state importance, as stipulated in Article 63 paragraph 2 of the Law on Local self-government, then "we certainly expect to take the measures provided for by law in the sense of warning, and also to submit a proposal for his dismissal to the Government".
"The competent judicial authority approved every signing of the documentation by the detained president of the Municipality of Budva. In this way, he performed his function... in the largest part of the prescribed jurisdiction unhindered, from the Investigation Prison. Unfortunately, our laws were not written to foresee illogical and unusual situations such as managing a municipality from prison, although in the last ten years it was quite clear that they would occur, and they should have been temporarily foreseen. On the other hand, as long as the court allows the management of the municipality from prison, and the local assembly does not problematize it and does not solve it in order, if nothing else, to preserve the reputation of the local administration, the mayor of the municipality can manage the municipality in this way without hindrance. Bearing in mind that the Law on Local Self-Government in Article 63 paragraph 2 defines what it means for the president of the municipality not to perform tasks within his competence for more than six months, recognizing them as not ensuring the execution of the law, the implementation of the strategic development plan of the municipality and other development plans and programs, as well as strategic documents of state importance, we do not expect that any illegalities will be discovered", said Radjenović.
DPS: Review the permits for the construction of Božović and partners
In Budva's strongest opposition party, DPS, they believe that the legality of decisions made by Božović should be determined by competent institutions.
"And do we have common-sense grounds to doubt the legitimacy of managing Budva from prison - we do." We warned of a scenario that, through the arrogance, arbitrariness and lawlessness of the local government, led Budva to the mess it is in today. Part of the responsibility lies in the hands of state institutions, which had to react in time so that we would not allow ourselves to talk about (il)legalities in the work of the Municipality only after 10 months. However, what to expect from those who enabled the local rulers and their party colleagues to create total anarchy in our city and that the hostages of such an irresponsible policy are only the citizens of Budva", they told "Vijesta".
When asked what they expect the Ministry to do if administrative supervision shows that there were legal failures in the work of the administration during Božović's stay in prison, the DPS pointed out that in the previous three years "we had the opportunity to see how the Constitution was being violated in the Parliament of Montenegro, and knowingly, and that the perpetrators went unpunished".
"We want to believe in some new practice, but it is difficult to dispel doubt, because those who are part of the legislative and executive authorities have so far shown that populism, political affiliation and politicking are closer to them than truth and justice! Today, we are in a situation where, among other things, we have 10 monthly salaries of employees in the Municipality, which were signed in Spuž. What should we expect, if the legality is questioned, to return those earnings?! We will not allow our fellow citizens to be harmed due to someone's negligent work and non-compliance with the law, we will be with them more than ever before and help them fight for their rights".
They assessed that Božović should return his earnings, because, as they point out, he cannot perform the job for which he was elected from prison.
"In the event that the work of the state authorities improves, which is what we sincerely want, we will insist that every single decision made during Božović's stay in Spuž be reviewed, especially the individual permits for the construction of buildings that the detained mayor is building with his partners."
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