DPS presidential candidate Milo Djukanovic says that it is clear that on 2 April, citizens are not only electing the president of the country, but also their path to the future. Speaking about the diaspora and these people’s right to vote in elections, Djukanovic says that the legal aspect is very clear, and that the Constitution clearly defines who has the right to vote. He points out that the diaspora shows exceptional attachment to Montenegro, indicating that they are very interested in where Montenegro is going – “whether it will join Europe or the Serbian World”.
In an interview with TVCG, he says that the days between the two rounds of the election sharpened the political picture even more. It is clear, he says, that the path he personifies is “the path of continuity – from preserving peace, restoring independence, turning the bow of the ship of state towards the European system of values, joining NATO” and that “it remains for us to finish that path with joining the EU”.
“Citizens of Montenegro do not decide for or against Milo Djukanovic, but decide for a better or worse future for their children. They decided in the referendum that they wanted a Montenegro managing its own future and Montenegro which already said then that it wanted a European and Euro-Atlantic future. The personification of that vision, whether someone likes it or not, is me,” Djukanovic points out.
The other option, he says, prefers the Open Balkans.
“Of course, I always presented the Open Balkans as the lobby of the Serbian World. The Serbian World is of course a part of the Russian World. All of that together has nothing to do with the European Union,” Djukanovic stresses.
Commenting on the result achieved in the first round of the presidential election, Djukanovic says that he is satisfied with the result. He adds that he has worked hard during the 14 days between the two rounds of the election, which is why he is “optimistic about the final outcome of the election”.
The optimism that he will win the election is based on “the rationality and prudence of the people in Montenegro”, Djukanovic explains.
Speaking about the standard of living, Djukanovic says that salaries increased “at the speed at which we ensured the sustainability of salary increases”.
“In the period from 2006 to 2020, the average salary and pension increased by 100%. They increased at the rate at which we ensured the sustainability of salary increases. We did not offer the illusion that we would share salaries from loans. But we have worked persistently with the development of investments and business, to create new jobs so that people get employed, and to increase salaries and pensions from the newly created product”, says Djukanovic.
Djukanovic is of the opinion that “civil states are under attack, thanks to reawakened big-state nationalisms in the Western Balkans”.
He adds that big-state projects “threaten civic Montenegro”.
He says that we should try to restore the good business environment as soon as possible thanks to which investors came.
“That is the only sound basis for us to be able to move towards EU membership and the achievement of a standard of living that will be accompanied by salaries of €1,500,” Djukanovic stresses.
The third goal, he points out, is membership in the EU.
Speaking about recently published photos of alleged police torture, Djukanovic says that, if it happened, those responsible for that should be fully investigated.
Speaking about investments, Djukanovic says that investors came to Montenegro because they had a “good business environment, low taxes, stability and predictability of government policies”.
“Because it has changed, now they don’t come. We have not had a government for two and a half years. This country is now going through agony. Today, investors don’t come because taxes have gone up and because there is a vengeful government,” he points out.
Djukanovic stresses that early parliamentary elections are to be held on 11 June.
Djukanovic believes that he is someone who “has shown that he is able to guarantee stability”.
“The political projection is very certain – it is defined by the vision that was realized and should end with membership in the EU and a European quality of life for the citizens of Montenegro,” he says.
Speaking about Milatovic, Djukanovic says that his opponent is “new and we judge him based on his performance during these two and a half years”.
“There is a lot of populism and, due to ignorance and inexperience, a lot of pandering to Greater Serbian aspirations towards Montenegro, which threatens to derail Montenegro from the track it started on 21 May 2006,” he points out.
Djukanovic expresses full confidence that the citizens “like many times before in difficult trials, will decide wisely for our state-house, their future and the future of their families”.
