You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
By Ljubomir Filipović, CdM observer
Dialogue
Apart from the phrases about the European future, we did not hear anything that was specifically discussed at the meeting of the Government and the opposition, which was not attended by the DF. But it’s good that they met. However, if we only chase external ticks, without a substantial and essential agreement, we won’t get anywhere. While the opposition, as well as external partners, want the DF to be excluded from power, as well as some kind of transitional form until the elections, it is almost certain that this cannot happen. The Democrats and the URA have been riding the wave of populism for too long to be able to make a dramatic turnaround so easily now. The only thing left is for the DF to exclude itself from the coalition through unrealistic stories and maximalist demands. And they are well on their way to doing so. Medojevic has already criticized Becic for meeting with the opposition at all, and the DF continues to emphasize the story of how Becic and Krivokapic betrayed the Serbs, so now neither of them is acceptable for officials. It is interesting how they do not mind Abazovic in all this.
Curses
Yesterday, the citizens did not want to allow the clergy of the Church of Serbia to go to Bajko’s Church, at Bjelila, and hold a liturgy. Out of revolt against the politics and behavior of the dignitaries of the Serbian Orthodox Church, Cuce locals protested in this way. While they are gathering there, the Serbian Metropolitan Joanikije II is warming up to swear, so he calls the citizens who gathered the last “criminal twitches of the red dragon”. In 2021, the Serbian metropolitan is fighting against communism, and so there is a revolt among the citizens and with his statements he fuels divisions.
Fight
Our MPs seemed to have a good time in Belgrade on their return from Moscow. According to the injured party Dejan Sekulic, Knezevic and Mandic attacked the man to whom Andrija Mandic’s son inflicted severe bodily injuries in the attack. This young man is known for his violent behavior from before, and the answer of MP Knezevic that “hockey with Putin” is to blame for his dislocated shoulder is a miserable attempt at humor. The Serbian prosecutor’s office has initiated proceedings against the perpetrators.
Matthew Palmer’s visit
Yesterday, President Djukanovic met with US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Matthew Palmer, during which they both emphasized the importance of Montenegro’s defense against external malignant influences. Djukanovic said that the ruling powers were changing, but that he had no doubt that Montenegro would remain on this path and be a valuable partner in promoting stability and Euro-Atlantic values in the Western Balkans.
Chinese debt deal
First, Minister Spajic said a couple of weeks ago that the government was in the last stages of negotiations on one country finding a way to refinance the highway debt. Unofficially, it was about the Netherlands. Now Minister Milatovic mentions “American or European banks”, announcing a solution in the coming weeks. Let’s see that too.
Petar Ivanovic’s immunity lifted
Today, the Administrative Committee unanimously supported the request of the Special State Prosecutor’s Office to lift the immunity of the DPS MP Petar Ivanovic. The Committee rejected the request to lift the immunity of MPs Milan Knezevic, Zdenka Popovic, Milun Zogovic, Vladan Raicevic and Dragan Krapovic. The DPS voted to lift the immunity of its MP, while the MPs did not do that for their colleagues.
Agreement in Budva
Bato Carevic’s administration is in a deep crisis and the DF has decided to put its ranks closer, offer a coalition to the Democrats and thus get out of the crisis. Budva mayor, who is accused of corruption and facing criminal charges, is between two fires – the DF on one hand and loyalty to PM Krivokapic and his lawyer, the ANB head Dejan Vuksic, on the other. Whether he will find himself in disgrace and be a scapegoat for the new government remains to be seen.
NGO sector crisis
Immediately after the elections, in my columns and comments, I expressed the fear that the first victim of democratic changes in Montenegro could be the civil sector, and today it is more visible. Jovana Marovic and Ana Novakovic joining URA is not the only problem. Although they joined this party overnight and non-transparently, despite having criticized its work for a while, they at least did it publicly. Many activists and organizations such as CEGAS or the Alternativa Institute, the LGBT Forum Progress, continue to be an extension of the Government, pretending from time to time to criticize some government policies. The product is public distrust in the civil sector. The distrust that will be hard to eradicate.
That’s it for today. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day.
