Joint visit of the head of state Jakov Milatović and another man from Podgorica and a possible holder of his electoral list Luka Rakčević to the firefighters of the capital, it could be problematic as an example of an official campaign that tries to provide an advantage before going to the polls in Podgorica.
The director of the Balkan Research Network (BIRN) for Montenegro assessed this for "Vijesti". Vuk Marash commenting on the day before yesterday Milatović's and Rakčević's tour of the Protection and Rescue Service of the Capital City, which followed not long after the information that the President of Montenegro was gathering a political block which, among others, should include Rakčević's Civil Movement (GP) URA, and that the deputy mayor Podgorice could lead him in the extraordinary local elections scheduled for September.
Milatović's public relations office announced on Wednesday that the head of state visited the Capital City's Protection and Rescue Services "due to the numerous active fires in recent weeks and the challenges faced by firefighters in protecting the lives of citizens and their property."
As they stated, he said on that occasion that "in order to strengthen the protection and rescue system, the capital city must allocate more funds for the acquisition of adequate equipment and the improvement of the material status of firefighters, in addition to strengthening the manpower that is currently lacking".
The office then announced that Rakčević thanked Milatović "for the initiative to visit the service and to support all its members led by the commander in these really difficult days" and that he "expressed his maximum willingness to help us in the coming period in providing certain funds and contacts in order to obtain the highest quality equipment".
Maraš says that, although the Montenegrin legislation still does not adequately recognize or limit official campaigns, public officials should refrain from activities that could be perceived in such a way. He says that precisely because of this, someone could problematize the visit of the President of Montenegro to the firefighters as a bureaucratic campaign.
"Firstly, because it is unusual that he went on the visit with the deputy mayor instead of the mayoress, and secondly because the public is speculating that this deputy is the possible holder of the list for the Podgorica elections, which would also have the support of President Milatović," said Maraš. .
The interlocutor states that, although no one can dispute that the Podgorica firefighters are heroes, "who fight fires these days with superhuman efforts" - they are not the only ones.
"Through the fire brigade and protection and rescue services, ambulance, police... there are many services that deserve a visit not only by the President of the State, but also by the Prime Minister and other top officials, as well as in those municipalities where elections are not held" , adds Marash.
"Vijesti" asked Milatović if he thinks that his tour of firefighters in the presence of Rakčević represents abuse of the presidential office for (pre)election purposes, why he is dealing with the state of the Protection and Rescue Service of the Capital City when that issue is not within his competence, why he did not visit Podgorica earlier firefighters and why he didn't visit those in other municipalities, why he wasn't in the presence of the mayor of Podgorica during the tour Oliver Injac or some other official of the Capital City, as he plans to provide funds for the Podgorica firefighters...
From his public relations office, "Vijesta" replied yesterday that Milatović visited the Protection and Rescue Service of the Capital City "bearing in mind the numerous active fires throughout Montenegro in recent weeks, as well as the challenges faced by firefighters in protecting the lives of citizens and their property...". It is, they say, a visit whose aim was "to pay tribute to the members of the Service who have been selflessly fighting the fiery element for weeks".
"We remind you that since the beginning of his mandate in May 2023, the president of the state has been conducting numerous social activities, including visits to various institutions at the state and local level. Also, we believe that the president of the state has an obligation to point out important topics in the sphere of politics, economy and society, and that is support for firefighters in these unpleasant moments", stated Milatović's office, adding that the visit was arranged by the president's office "in regular procedures". .
They say that Milatović, "desiring to help as much as possible from his position, expressed his interest in initiating the possibility of donating part of the equipment necessary for better work of the Protection and Rescue Service of the Capital City through direct contact with the representatives of the partner countries."
Sociologist Biljana Maslovaric she told "Vijesta" that the president is a representative of the state in the country and abroad, and that her assumption is that Milatović is only "skillfully using his position to, in fact, in some way stand out politically".
He states that Rakčević is formally and legally still the deputy mayor and that in this situation "the form is quite satisfied". He adds that people who hold certain positions find a way to "cover up" while they are doing political campaigns, so that it looks like they are doing it within their jurisdiction.
"How we will interpret that gesture, most often depends on aspirations", said the interlocutor, stating that it concerns "elementary political education of citizens".
Rakčević did not answer the questions of "Vijesti" as to why Milatović went on a tour and why it was organized right now when the agreement on a joint coalition for the Podgorica elections is close, whether he thinks it is abuse in the election campaign and why he is on the tour he went with Milatović, but not Mayor Injac.
During the visit to Milatović, he also said that "we should all remember the service during the fire season, when the problems they face are the greatest".
"But it is our obligation to pay additional attention to their position even after the fire season...", he said.
Elections in Podgorica are scheduled for September 29, after the mandate of the local parliament was recently shortened by the votes of the councilors of the opposition, the Movement for Podgorica, GP URA and one councilor of the Movement for Change (PzP). The outgoing government in Podgorica consists of the Europe Now Movement (PES), a coalition gathered around the former Democratic Front (DF), Demokrata and GP URA.
"Vijesti" announced on Wednesday that Milatović is gathering a political bloc for the upcoming elections, which, as things stand now, should include the Movement for Podgorica and GP URA, which are close to him, and possibly some other political actors.
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