Colors of the Morning: Local government elections next year

Last year, the Secretariat for Local Self-Government received 900 citizen initiatives to resolve problems in local communities that are still awaiting the election of a president. Until the implementation of the new model that implies direct elections, they will be managed by acting officers proposed by the President of the Capital City Assembly and appointed by the Election and Appointment Committee, said Secretary Slađana Anđušić, speaking on TV Vijesti's Boje jutra.

When asked whether this interim solution is a continuation of political influence and on what basis the acting candidates were proposed, he replied:

"It was the consensus of all political parties that it was necessary to depoliticize local communities. I believe that the first consideration was the quality of the candidates themselves, their desire and ability to engage in new work. The president herself said that in that process, they had candidates who repeatedly gave up when they were informed about their responsibilities, what tasks they should perform in the local community and what was expected of them. They are expected to be socially engaged, to work in the interest of the local community, to have good communication with citizens, to have good communication with councilors in the Assembly of the capital city. Also, to give their suggestions when it comes to the local community program, to submit a report on the work in the local community, in a word, to follow the public interest and to put it first."

Andjušić also says that after appointing the acting president, he will create the conditions and begin the election process itself.

"My proposal will be that the elections will first be held in smaller local communities, and then we will move on to larger local communities. Whether it will be particular, one by one, or in all, is up to the Assembly of the capital, or rather the President of the Assembly, who calls the elections for local communities. I believe, given that the appointment of the acting mayor was delayed, that the conditions will be created next year for us to have the first elections," she stated.

By the end of the year, most of the local community premises will be renovated, and half a million euros will be spent on this by the end of this year. Anđušić stated that all debts have been paid, and that for some, such as the electricity debt of the Komani local community, 17 thousand euros had to be paid.