The leader of Budva's URA, Blažo Radjenović, said that Budva is emerging from the chaotic state it undeservedly found itself in thanks to the policies of the constituents of the 44th Government.
"This third path that we have mapped out tonight will be the real change that not only the citizens of Budva but also of Montenegro wanted after 2020. A wave of change will start from Budva," he said.
Responding to the question of who will get the DPS seat in government, Jovanović said that everything that will be done in the next few months will be dedicated to consolidating the work of local government, not to political bargaining and gaining some positions.
"The entire public received confirmation tonight that we are not and will not form a coalition with DPS, but rather we received support for a platform for overcoming the political crisis, which is the work agenda for the next four years. I believe that the support of the councilors will be there as long as we fulfill what we promised," he said.
Asked if this means that there will be no discussions about positions until the summer season, Jovanović said that positions will be dealt with in a professional manner.
"What has been a bad practice so far, filling positions based on party affiliation, the famous breadth and depth, will no longer be a practice in Budva. We will fill senior management positions in accordance with the Law, opening this process to all professionals, and I invite all people from all over Montenegro to apply and check us out," said Jovanović.
Jovanović announced that he had fulfilled his election promise to lead to victory, and then took the oath.
Two councilors from the Movement for the City were against Jovanović's election.
Jovanović was elected President of the Municipality of Budva, by the votes of councilors from "Budva our city", DPS, the European Union and GP URA.
When the councilors of the "For the Future of Budva" coalition left, there were shouts. The remaining councilors in the hall were Budva Our City, DPS, the European Alliance of URA and the Movement for the City.
Previously, a PES councilor also came out with the Democrats.
Councilors "For the Future of Budva" left the session after Odžić's decision not to allow a second-round debate longer than five minutes.
Odžić decided that all clubs in the second round would have five minutes for discussion.
"He has the right not to have a second round and to immediately put the decision to a vote. We agreed at the collegium that if there are any bad words, I will stop the discussion and put it to a vote," said Odžić.
Krsto Rađenović (SNP) told Odžić not to threaten and to put the matter to a vote immediately. Odžić said that he was not threatening anyone but was trying to make peace all the time.
Jovana Todorović (DNP) accused Jovanović of signing the verdict against Milo Božović because he is forming a coalition with the Kavač clan and the DPS.
Nikola Milović (DPS) said that as they announced after the elections, citizens come first.
"What I have to repeat is that there is no coalition or signed agreement between us and anyone in this room. What is important to us and what our principles are, is the civic governance of Budva. Those who voted for all civic lists can rest assured because we have a responsibility to govern the city. Our responsibility is that we voted for the election of Odžić and that we will continue to do so today. We will provide project support to the platform because it is a civic step forward in the political sky of Montenegro. This city should be led by those who have titles, knowledge and courage. It is high time that party passions and the excited vanities of political leaders be put aside," said Miković.
He said that DPS would vote for the platform and Jovanović for president.
Jovanović said that the city has lasted for two and a half thousand years and that "this Mojkovci resident will not take it away," but will leave it much better.
"I will be the president of all citizens," he said.
Jovanović responded to the dilemmas that arose around the platform, stating that he was glad that no one had any objections and that the assessments were positive, and that there was a consensus.
He accused the Government of not giving up on its lawsuit for the collection of 29 million rubles from the Municipality of Budva, which it gave as a guarantee for the waste water project.
"If the government means well for this city, it can solve the problem in two minutes and drop the lawsuit," he pointed out.
He said that no one from "Budva our city" wants to work with the coalition "For the Future of Budva" after everything they said and insinuated.
"You have brought politics to the level of mud, the tenth round of pakko, that you are calling people you were with until yesterday the worst possible names, and you are calling us when you need our mandates to elect your president. What will happen to us, don't worry about our political life," Jovanović pointed out.
He reminded that they called on For the Future of Budva to reach an agreement and respect the will of the citizens.
"Don't force yourself with political forecasts, there will be no third time in Montenegro, you have wasted your August hope. I fought vigorously against DPS when they were in power, I can't when they are in opposition. I am a Serb not according to Andrija Mandić, but according to my family. I don't need your license on Serbianness. Don't manipulate," said Jovanović.
The Democratic councilors left the session.
Aleksandar Petrić (Budva our city) said that the citizens knew who they had given their word to and the vast majority of the membership supported them in their intention to gather the right team around the platform.
"Jovanović had the right idea to gather everyone who could contribute to help implement the platform. I have been an opposition member since 1991. I received enormous support from people from my multinational environment where I come from. What you are just emphasizing, that we betrayed our voters, don't worry, that is our problem. It sounds crazy to me that Jovanović quarreled with his godfathers and relatives. Whoever comes is welcome," he said.
He said that time will tell who the traitor is.
Mladen Mikijelj (For the Future of Budva) said that this is the final act of forming a coalition between "Budva our city" and DPS.
"They did not believe our statements that the coalition was created in March last year when the mandate of the Municipal Assembly was shortened. This is the first time that the future Mayor of the Municipality is nominating himself because no one wants to do that. I will look back at 2016, when together with the Democrats and the SNP we managed to remove the DPS from power. We managed to revive the city in the next three years and started implementing projects. However, in 2019, the man who nominated himself for the presidency managed to make everyone quarrel. Milo Đukanović sent him to Budva to quarrel with his godfathers and friends and to form a government with DOS. In the pre-election campaign, his key phrase was never with DPS, and tonight in his councilors' club there is no one to say a nice word about Jovanović," said Mikijelj.
Mikijelj calls out the councilors from "Budva our city" by name, reminding them of their stories about being fighters against the DPS.
Mikijelj again called Jovanović "a scoundrel and a scoundrel for ages and ages." Odžić immediately took his word for it.
"When you meet people on the street, feel free to approach them," said Odžić.
Dragana Kažanegra Stanišić (Democrats) said that the election of the president of the Municipality of Budva should be a solemn event.
"The majority of citizens should be satisfied and their expectations met, which is not the case. The election is not legitimate because the pre-election promises of 'Budva is our city' are not the ones that are now seen in the coalition with DPS. This state of siege, this atmosphere is like arresting criminals and not electing a president," she pointed out.
Every normal person, she said, should be happy that the crisis is resolved.
"However, appointing Jovanović does not solve it. I am surprised that Božović is resigning after two and a half years, at the request of the DPS. He should have done that immediately, and not for such conflicts to occur and the city to lose two seasons. The formation of this coalition is aimed at returning the DPS to power, an agency since 2019, so that the party can return to full capacity," she pointed out.
She assessed that Jovsnović's platform was more serious than Božović's and that it was difficult to achieve.
"The Democrats will not be a pawn in preventing the development of the city. I wish Jovanović professional happiness because it would lead to the development of my city. I believe that unnatural love cannot last long, this is a triumph of the DPS, which always finds a rotten tooth," she pointed out.
Nemanja Kuljača (For the Future of Budva) said that the platform did not bring any news and was unrealistic.
"Once it was presented, it was necessary to see whether it was reflected in the budget, whether the projects would be implemented. The platform served to obscure the agreement between 'Budva our city' and DPS. Again, we have the same situation as at the constituent session, that we have a proposal signed by people who are not attending," said Kuljača.
He objected to the fact that parliamentary material is in the Latin alphabet and that the public should know in which language communication is being conducted.
"This session is the completion of a process that began in March last year when 'Budva naš grad', together with DPS, shortened the mandate of the Budva Municipal Assembly. Jovanović did not receive a mandate to do this," said Kuljača, citing Jovanović's statement from November that a match-fixing campaign was being seen against him that he would go with DPS.
"I think it's fair to the citizens to say that you're going with DPS so that they know who the people are who brought that party back to power," he said.
Krsto Rađenović (SNP), speaking about Jovanović's program, said that it was a story that everyone had heard a long time ago, and he said nothing about Sveti Stefan, Petrovac and Buljarica.
"There is nothing to that platform, just as Božović had grandiose plans. It's all a fraud and nothing will come of it this time either," said Radjenović, stating that some things are being talked about that have no basis.
Ksenija Baković (Movement for the City) said that the citizens of Budva are confused about whether DPS is providing minority support or whether our city is in coalition with Budva. She said that Nikola Milović from DPS should make a statement.
According to her, "the platform is fine, but everyone acts as if they are in Šavnik, because no one is saying that the season is in four months."
"We will have a bad season again. If Jovanović is president, then all citizens, Muslims, Catholics and Orthodox, will be there and he should be present everywhere. We have to rebuild the rotten foundations in order to realize all those megalomaniac projects of garages, promenades and hospitals," said Baković.
She only pointed out that the chairs were important.
"If you need to keep power, you will go beyond everything, everything you said about each other. We need a president for all citizens, to solve the problem of the season and only then talk about the platform," she emphasized.
Nemanja Kuljača (For the Future of Budva) requested a ten-minute break because the MEC has a quorum in order to verify Filip Vujović's mandate.
Odžić put a motion to vote, but it was rejected. Mladen Mikijelj accused Odžić of abusing their trust because he did not want to give a break, and the problem was that the secretary of the OIK did not want to appear so that Vujović's mandate would not be verified. Odžić explained that he would give Vujović the right to disperse.
Jovanović said that the OIK secretary goes to the police to report speculative activities.
"I don't see that it can be quickly resolved and work can continue," Jovanović pointed out.
Mikijelj accused Odžić of allowing Jovanović to express political views through procedural presentations, which Odžić rejected.
Milan Tičić (DPS) emphasized that the session should continue and prevent councilors from abusing the procedure, alluding to Mikijelj.
Ilija Gigiović (For the Future of Budva) suggested that Odžić hire an expert team of lawyers and not listen to Jovanović's advice.
"Since Berislav Fabris was professionally appointed as the secretary of the Municipal Assembly, he came apolitical, and now he is in the URA," said Gigović.
He asked Odžić whether Jovanović was stepping down from the illegal position of vice president to the position of president.
"He deceived voters in the elections. I ask how he entered the council chambers from 33 seats on his list in order to control his councilors. I ask Jovanović, when he is such a benefactor, why is he afraid to go with security escorts. Can he take a walk near the Old Town? I ask DPS how it is possible for a diametrically opposed policy to be acceptable to you, because that is all against your principles. I will use the words of Milo Božović from the 2022 elections, when he ran with the slogan 'Budva in the first place', now it is the chair in the first place," Gigović said.
Bonus video:
