You are reading a daily contextual insight of the news that marked last weekend
Edited by: Ljubomir Filipović, CDM analytic
The Congress
The long awaited congress of the biggest and until recently governing party was held. President Milo Đukanović was reelected as the president of the party. The changes occurred in the domain of the vice presidents and there are four of them now. It is safe to say that politically speaking the most important vice president is Ivan Vukovic, mayor of Podgorica who represents the younger generation of DPS leaders. His authority within the party grows bigger having in mind that he is number 2 in the party when strength and power of locally governed office taken into consideration.
Scientist and until recently Minister of Science, the person whose popularity exceeds the boundaries of DPS membership Ms Sanja Damjanović, was also elected as the vice president of the party. Aside from Mr Vukovic and Ms Damjanovic, Mr Jevto Eraković, who until recently was the director of the General hospital and Mr Abaz Dizdarević member of the parliament, artist and professor at the University were also elected as vice presidents.
We can not oversee the absence of appointing the until recent leaders of the party such as Mr Branimir Gvozdenović, who is often targeted and threatened by the new Government, and who might be one of the first “big fishes” who will taste the strictness of the new electoral majority by insisting on the processing of numerous criminal charges filed during his incumbency at sustainable development ministry. Mr Milutin Simović , is out of the picture too who had the most prominent role during the fight against the pandemic. Mr Simović is now in charge of the second biggest city in the country and he is getting ready for the local elections which will be the first and most serious test of the trust of citizens after the change of the government.
Presumably the former Prime Minister Mr Duško Marković shall assume charge of the political Council of the party, position that once belonged to Mr Svetozar Marović. A highly important and demanding position of general secretary was planned for former Minister of Defense Mr Predrag Bošković.
Right after the session of the Congress public statements of two vice presidents were issued. Mr Ivan Vukovic had a motivational speech inviting the members to “defend Nikšić and Montenegro”. From Geneva Ms Sanja Damjanović, addressed the attendants and also expressed her optimism regarding further party operations.
From abroad the traditional DPS partners sent their support, Ms Latinka Perović and the prime minister of Northern Macedonia Mr Zoran Zaev spoke online at the Congress. Civil society criticized the Congress itself. Mr Zlatko Vujović made comments about DPS needing substantial changes within the party. Ms Daliborka Uljarević analyzed the program of the party for Vijesti stating that it is like an “old and bad” movie. Strangely the Congress was commented by the rector of the Cetinje seminary father Gojko Perović, who, quite sharply, criticized Mr Đukanovića. Mr Perović, was accused on social media of coordinating and inspiring administrators of troll pages, who in the past year spread hatred and often fascist content. Coordinated or not with his comment he started an avalanche of reactions and memes regarding “anti-Orthodox Congress of the DPS” statement.
#21million
There were serious reactions both nationally and internationally after the decision of the Special State Prosecutor office that there is no enough evidence to file a motion against the alleged offering of the bribe to Mr Dritan Abazović. MP Mr Raško Konjević ironically tweeted that he was offered 500 000 EUR to support the new government and that, in case if the Special State Prosecutor’s office chooses to invite him to give a statement, they can use the same answer Mr Abazovic provided in his case. Leading anticorruption activist Mr Dejan Milovac, reacted as well. He tweeted as an answer to Mr Terzics statement that there are two options. Either Mr Abazovic stated he was never offered money or either the Special State Prosecutor’s office won’t do their job. Mr Drago Kos, the chairman of the working group for OECD business anticorruption stated that now that the Special State Prosecutor refused to deal with this matter mr Abazovic has no reason to remain silent. He underlined that he experienced working with acting prosecutor Ms Sanja Jovićević and that he is sure she would set the procedure in motion if there were basis for that.
Diplomatic conundrum
The Minister of Foreign Affairs Mr Đorđe Radulović confronted the ambassador Mr Nebojša Kaluđerović. After the ambassador’s public reaction to the Minister’s public statement, the Minister wrote a long, rude political letter and confronted his older colleague.
Holiday house in Jaz
After a web portal published an article, with a lot of wrong information, but with good questions about illegal building at the mouth of the river in Jaz, SD spokesman Mr Nikola Zirojević reacted. In a slightly undiplomatic manner, Mr Zirojevic asked if the allegations were true. MP Ms Božena Jelušić, debunked the allegations made by Mr Zirojevic. The house, with no firm foundation and because of which a part of the woods was cut down, is not registered at the state cadaster. Although it is owned by a relative of Ms Jelusic, all of the locals know that it is primarily used by the MP Jelusic because the building is located at a very conspicuous place at the beach. Zirojevic later responded to her statement.
Hate graffiti in Berane
After web portals published articles about hate graffiti on an old Aeroport building in Berane, who were painted over and then renewed the Bosnian party reacted. The local government condemned the graffiti by accusing “Udba” of making the graffiti, forgetting that they are actually in control of it.
Internet wars
After the attack of so called mim serdari, fascist Facebook troll pages who spread hatred via this platform for a year, on The Books of Knjige, the members of The Books of Knjige reacted by publishing the alleged identities of the administrators of the pages. The Atlantic Council’s Digital Forensic Center revealed that the coordination of the attack on members of The Books of Knjige was done on chetnik’s channel on Telegram application, which is apparently linked to the memers from Montenegro.
A large number of The Books of Knjige fans revealed other details about them marking one of the student leaders and liturgy speakers Mr Nebojša Kasalica, as one of the administrators and the author of the caricature of Minister Vesna Bratić. When questioned by the police he stated that he is not the author of the aforementioned caricature.
Vučić’s men in Nikšić?
There is an information on the internet and in media that the former athlete Mr Vlada Mandić started a political career in Montenegro and that he is taking part in the campaign for Niksic elections. Former MP of SNS-a Mr Predrag Rajić, was also spotted in Niksic often accompanied by Za buducnost Niksica activists. Many information on social media indicate that there is a strong inflow of the field activists from Serbia and republic of Srpska and their illegal influence and misuses.
That’s it for today. See you tomorrow at same time.
