Mehmed Bardhi's Democratic Alliance in Montenegro called on voters to decide for themselves whether and for which presidential candidate they will vote. In that party, which as a member of the Albanian coalition is part of the government, they said that not a single presidential candidate deserves open support. Although the Albanian parties in the ruling coalition pledged to support the candidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the Civic Initiative and part of the Democratic Union of Albanians called on voters to boycott the elections or to invalidate their ballots.
"The Democratic Alliance invites voters and sympathizers to decide independently, taking into account what they have achieved so far. Albanians, it's time to think for yourself, and let the future president not forget that Albanians are an autochthonous people and that they are on their own land," Bardhi said in a statement.
He assessed that Filip Vujanović, as president of the state, did nothing to affirm the position of Albanians and that corruption and organized crime are still key problems in the state. On the other hand, Miodrag Lekić, as Bardhi claims, as a representative of the opposition, never showed interest in the problems of minority peoples, nor did he let it be known that he would improve their status as the president of the country.
On the other hand, the committees of the Democratic Alliance in Malaysia and Plav i Gusinje called on voters to boycott the presidential elections. The branches of the party, led by Nikola Camaj and Tahir Đonbaljaj, believe that there is no reason to support any of the presidential candidates. They accused Bardhi that without consulting his party colleagues, he made the decision to invite voters to decide for themselves who they will vote for.
"We believe that all Albanians should boycott the elections on Sunday or, if they go out, make the ballots invalid, and in that way express their dissatisfaction with discrimination in Montenegro," the announcement states.
As it is pointed out, Albanians are not proportionally represented in the state administration, although this is guaranteed by Ustrav, while the resolution of the issue of the full-fledged municipality of Tuzi is constantly postponed. It is stated that Albanians are, among other things, discriminated against by the electoral law, which abolishes their guaranteed mandates, as well as restrictions on the use of national symbols. They state that the state does not solve the issue of returning land to Albanians, and that investments are being made in the area of Plav and Gusinje.
"Even though we massively supported the independence project of Montenegro, in the "Flight of the Eagle" operation, we were rewarded with prison sentences and brutal police actions," the announcement states.
The decision of the branches of the Democratic Union not to stand behind the call of the party headquarters is not the first in the Albanian electorate, because previously Fadilj Kajošaj from the Democratic Union of Albanians said to vote for him on Sunday even though the party supported the DPS candidate Filip Vujanović. Kajošaj, who is the president of the Assembly of GO Tuzi, said that he expects the voters in Dinosa to boycott the elections and thus show their disagreement with the behavior of the authorities during the incidents in Dinosa.
The Albanian alternative leaves the choice to sympathizers
The Albanian Alternative (AA) called on the voters to decide for themselves how they will vote in the elections, stating that "Albanians as a politically mature people" know how to make the right decision.
"We have no doubt that they will know how to behave according to the offered solutions. The AA Presidency is of the opinion that this time they should also decide what is the best solution for them", said AA President Đerđ Camaj.
He said that the party will advocate for a full-fledged municipality of Malaysia, clarifying that the next local elections should be held in an independent municipality. As stated, the party has established working groups that work every day to ensure that the consultative referendum is as successful as possible and that the municipality of Malesia is in the hands of the Albanian national parties.
"The presidential elections are one stop at which it does not stop, and we are sure that without pressure and invitations, the Albanians should be left to decide for themselves whether and whom to round up. The call to round up both candidates is a call to devalue the voice of Albanians, because this means voting for both candidates, and this is characteristic of those who sit on two chairs, who by signing have become part of the government and on the public stage the "fierce" opposition, which only they create confusion in the electorate," says Camaj.
He expects that the new president will work to improve the position of Albanians, promote cooperation with Albania and establish diplomatic relations with Kosovo without conditions. AA expects the newly elected president to hire a member of the Albanian minority in his team.
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