The leader of the SDP and Speaker of the Parliament, Ranko Krivokapic, sees the DF’s protests as a legitimate democratic act.
“I perceive the protests as a democratic institution, I see that they are peaceful, civil, nonviolent, and I consider them normal, even vital part of a serious democracy,” said Mr Krivokapic.
He called upon the Democratic Front to return to the Parliament.
“I urge them to return to the Parliament, which is an institution that has proved to know how to conduct a dialogue. After the presidential elections we did it and we have plenty of time until the new elections to try all possible arrangements,” said Mr Krivokapic.
As he said, the local elections were further degradation of the electoral process.
“Then said – technical government is not a desirable option. However, if we fail again to restore confidence in election process through the initiative of the SDP in the Parliament, and if political corruption continues as recently in the Municipal Assembly in Budva, and if corruption becomes the official policy of the Government, then the technical government becomes a political options. We have changed the law through electronic identification and we launched a working body, but there are other preconditions. If they are not met, then all democratic options are open,” Mr Krivokapic said.
Asked by a reporter of the portal CdM when he expected elections, Mr Krivokapic said that May was the first term and October the last.
He said that the DPS-SDP coalition would survive while meeting the common strategic objectives and while operating within the law.
“If we start to work outside the law, then the SDP will not be in such a coalition. I would not like Budva to be moved to Podgorica, particularly at the state level. We will act in accordance with the law and the national principles, and bring political and legal decisions within the bodies of the SDP,” Mr Krivokapic said.
Asked when he expects a response from the Prime Minister, Milo Djukanovic, to the request to dismiss ministers Ivan Brajovic and Vujica Lazovic, the SDP leader said he expected it soon.
“The DPS has begun to consider this issue. I hope it will soon provide an answer. I do not want to believe that someone can enter into official corruption at the government level, particularly in the months that are important to our NATO integration process, and thus stop our progress towards the EU. So I expect a response and respect for basic boundaries,” said Mr Krivokapic.
We are creating an ambient for suspicious investors
He also commented on the Mr Djukanovic’s assessments that Mr Krivokapic launched a story that investors come to Montenegro just to take something from it.
“We did a case study when Parliament discussed development projects, and it turned out that the Parliament did not stop any project. If it stopped, then it prevented a damage which would be caused by constructing apartments in Milocer Park and leasing Mamula for €4,000 and taking over huge liabilities. Facts show that the projects offered to the Parliament were not right ones. If someone believed to have successful projects, he/she would submit reports on that to the Parliament, and it has not happened. The facts show quite the opposite – poor management of national resources by the Government led to blaming others. Facts show that there was no parliamentary dictatorship, and running away from responsibility is not the way to run a serious policy”, Mr Krivokapic said.
He also commented on the negotiations between the Government and the Italian company A2A related to the Electric Power Company of Montenegro (EPCG).
“We received a Western investor and now he is leaving us. We cannot say that we are a country of good economic management, and the key objection is the high level of corruption. If the national Italian investors are leaving us, then it is a political and economic message and a proof that we do not create an environment in order to attract right investors, but rather suspicious ones, who do not give results while obtaining enormous privileges,” Mr Krivokapic concluded.
