Good morning. You’re reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
By Ljubomir Filipović, CdM observer
Give them tricolors and party positioning
This headline sounds like a great moto for this new Montenegro, which is being implemented by the ruling majority. One of the leaders of the ‘Resist!’ protest, who used to constantly criticize “party positioning” of the former government and who was talking about it so much that the then opposition-oriented media declared him a hero, took over as a member of the CEDIS governing board. If there is a company established in the absurdity of bureaucratic state management – it’s CEDIS. Such behavior of this young man represents a paradigm of trivialization of the protest movement, which ceased to exist with calculations of its organizers. It turns out that they protested in order to carry out party positioning. Apart from mass party positioning and party-backed recruitment, tricolors are also part of the strategy of stabilization of the new government. Like the Roman saying “Give them bread and games”, this government has no intention of carrying out reforms – it intends to change power relations and continue with bad practice, by silencing their voters with a common budget trough and displaying tricolors. The municipal administration in the town of Budva made a provocation yesterday, as it [Budva] has been decorated with tricolors. Although Mr Bato Carević clashed with limitations of his capacities as a leader during the tour across the Serbian World, he still doesn’t give up. The DPS in Budva published yesterday a footage of the Budva Mayor while singing the Chetnik songs.
Brioni and Brussels
President Milo Đukanović took part at the Brdo-Brioni Summit, while the WB leaders are to continue with their meetings with European officials today as well. Tensions run high at the meetings, and both Mr Borut Pahor and Mr Željko Komšić talked about it. Some were telling that the entire region should be perceived as a whole in the integration and negotiation process, but Mr Đukanović required that merits of every candidate country should be counted separately. Serbia’s President talked about it as well, backing the first option.
Last week I wrote how unclear messages of Brussels may be interpreted differently. While the opposition perceives the recommendations of the Venice Commission as a warning and support to the continuation of dialogue, Mr Dritan Abazović thinks that they encourage the adoption of the law that sets a dangerous precedent for the society’s politicization. Mr Abazović presents mixed reactions of European officials as the support to his undemocratic impulses, and, unfortunately, a good part of Montenegro thinks the same. Such narrow mind opens the door to the current government and every next government to threaten the independence of prosecution and judiciary. The problem is that every future reaction of Brussels will be measured by the tepid response we got now, and that every future leader can understand this as an invitation not to care much about Brussels’ messages.
Minister Mitrović’s insincerity
We were laughing last week at Minister Ratko Mitrović’s clumsy justification only to learn from Vijesti this week that the illegal facility in Budva was not only the property of his son but used to be his own until April this year, when he gave it to his heir. Therefore, the Minister wanted to deceive the public and hide that he possesses a house in one of the most destroyed parts of the Budva Municipality. The Minister, who is supposed to deal with illegal construction, turns out to be an illegal builder himself.
Face masks as a legal obligation
Thirty-euro fines for physical persons and up to 30.000 euro fine for legal entities. Fortunately, the Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro is not a legal entity, because MPs discussed this matter yesterday during discussion over the proposal for amendments to the Law on Protection of Population from Communicable Diseases. The Minister of Health, Ms Jelena Borovinić Bojović, and the Secretary to the Ministry of Health, Mr Borko Bajić, were in attendance as well. Presenting the amendments to the Law on Protection of Population from Communicable Diseases, the Minister pointed out that they [amendments] determined the obligation to wear a protective mask indoors and outdoors, with the obligatory physical distancing depending on the epidemiological situation. She said that hospitality bosses who didn’t adhere to Covid rules may be ordered to close their facilities.
Invitation to Mount Sinjajevina
In the absence of a proper celebration of the Independence Day organized by the government and the new majority, citizens are going to do it on their own. The academician, Vukić Pulević, called on citizens to go to Mount Lovćen on May 21, in order to celebrate the holy date of modern Montenegrin history with dignity. This year, Montenegro is celebrating 15 years since regaining its independence. “For the first time in a sovereign Montenegro, an ideology is in power that has been doing everything for more than a century and a half to undermine Montenegrin independence and Montenegrin identity. That is why this year’s 21st of May is an exam of our national maturity”, said Mr Pulević.
That’s all for today. Until tomorrow.
