The President of Montenegro, Jakov Milatović, proposed today his party colleague and the leader of the Europe Now Movement (PES) Milojko Spajić as the representative for the composition of the new government.
Milatović, at the media conference held at the President's Residence in Cetinje, said that after his consultations with the representatives of the parties ended yesterday, only one proposal for a candidate for the mandate - Spajić - crystallized.
He pointed out that Spajić was supported by parties with a total of 44 seats in the parliament - PES with coalition partners (24 MPs), Democrats (seven MPs), Bosniak Party (six MPs, Socialist People's Party (two MPs), and Albanian Alternative, Democratic the Alliance of Albanians, the Democratic Union of Albanians, Forca and the Croatian Civic Initiative (they all have one representative).
Milatović said that a certain number of parties, primarily from the coalition For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG), expressed their readiness to support the head of PES after a possible agreement on the government.
He stated that the Social Democrats (SD), who after consultation said that it was logical for Spajić to be the mandate holder, were not among those who supported Spajić.
"During the consultations, it was not a question of what is logical and what is not, but who the subjects support for the mandate," he added.
The head of state announced that by awarding the mandate to Spajić, a phase will begin that involves reaching a political agreement and forming a parliamentary majority that will elect a new executive. The constitutional deadline for proposing the program and composition of the Government is 90 days.
"I expect responsibility and expediency from Mr. Spajić as a future mandate holder, as well as from all political actors participating in the negotiations regarding the formation of the government. As president, I believe that Montenegro needs a stable political government at this moment, with indisputable European and reform profiles, whose constituents in the Assembly will decisively contribute to the realization of all necessary appointments in the judiciary, open a dialogue on electoral reform and act effectively when it comes to initiatives important for improving the rule of law, improving the standard of living and speeding up the European path," emphasized Milatović.
The president said that if Spajić is unable to form a cabinet, he can return his mandate.
"The law on the president stipulates that in that case I have the obligation to conduct a new round of consultations, and then give the mandate to someone else," explained Milatović.
He stated that he sees the government negotiation process as inclusive, "in which the voice of any citizen will not be devalued in advance."
"I wish Mr. Spajić success in his efforts to form a stable and professional government, which will be able to cope with the key challenges facing Montenegrin society. As president, I will follow the negotiations on the formation of the future government with special attention, until the finalization of the entire process," said Milatović.
When asked by a journalist if he thinks it is not good that some international addresses suggest that the ZBCG coalition should not be part of the government and that some parties refuse to talk to the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the president first answered by quoting Abraham Lincoln.
"'It is up to us today to dedicate ourselves to a somewhat unfinished business, so that the people who live here have a new birth of freedom, by getting a government from the people, for the people and with the people'. That is my answer to your question," he said. .
However, he later added that it is now a question for Spajić.
"As far as I am concerned, as the president of Montenegro who respects the Constitution and the law of Montenegro and who in that constitutional and legal process appoints the mandate holder, every vote of every citizen of Montenegro should be treated in the absolute same way," underlined Milatović.
Asked whether during the consultations with ZBCG he received guarantees from that coalition that, in case of joining the government, it would support the positions of the official Podgorica regarding NATO, the war in Ukraine, the Kosovo issue, the president said that strengthening the credibility of NATO membership is in at the top of the projected priorities of the majority of actors who participated in the consultations, and that none of them absolutely questions Montenegro's membership in NATO.
When asked if he thinks that during the negotiations on the formation of the government, the proposed principle of PES should be strictly adhered to - that portfolios are divided according to the election results, Milatović replied that today he is acting from the position of the head of state and that this is also a question for Spajić.
"I repeat, as the president of Montenegro - every vote in the elections is equal," he added.
"Provision 7c stipulates that the president is obliged to support a candidate who has the support of the majority in the Assembly. Bearing that in mind, I asked all subjects to explicitly state whether they support any candidate. Only one candidate proposal crystallized, and that is the holder of the PES list and Mr. Spajić. He was supported by entities that have a total of 44 parliamentary seats - PES with partners, Democrats, BS, SNP, Albanian Alternative and the Democratic Alliance of Albanians, DUA, Forca, HGI," said Milatović.
He added that a certain number of entities, primarily from the coalition Together for the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG), expressed their readiness to support Spajić after the agreement on the government.
Speaking about the consultations that ended yesterday, which he had been conducting since last week, Milatović said that the discussions related to the Government's priorities, its structure, the preferred model of government and support for one of the candidates for the mandate.
"Regarding the priorities, there is a general consensus of all subjects regarding the necessity of accelerating the EU integration process, improving the rule of law and the fight against organized crime and corruption, and improving living standards through a realistic and sustainable model of economic growth. Strengthening the credibility of NATO membership is also is at the top of the projected priorities of most parties, and none of the parties questions Montenegro's membership in that organization. In addition, strengthening institutions, further affirmation of civic values of society, improvement of relations with neighboring countries... should be the priorities of the 44th government ", he said at the press conference.
Milatović announced that the parties had different views on the question of the structure and number of ministries in the new government. According to him, some of the parties believe that a larger number of departments is necessary for more effective implementation of the government's goals, while others assess "that the overly bulky structure does not arise from programmatic needs, but represents political satisfaction of the members of the future government."
"It is evident that there are still exclusivities between different parties when it comes to the possibility of coalition cooperation in the context of government formation... Regarding the preferred model and structure of the 44th government, all participants in the conversation agreed that Montenegro needs a political and stable government. Some subjects believe that the support of the future government of at least 49 deputies is a guarantee of the accelerated election of the highest judicial positions, which would contribute to the institutional unblocking and the acceleration of the country's European path, while others believe that it is a question of two separate processes...", concluded is Milatović.
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