You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
By Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM observer
When we sum it all up, the visit of Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar had a strong and unequivocal message – the DF is not a partner – for now. Pragmatically in an American way, Escobar says that the DF is focused on ethnic divisions, but that the United States is not focused only on what the DF says, but also on what it does. The DF is blocking this government, its laws and budget, and that is the biggest problem. In the end, he left them room to make things right.
On the other hand, the opposition interprets this as an invitation to a new majority. The opposition continues to offer itself to the Democrats and URA, who do not even know what they will do. Democrats are divided between wanting to compete with the DF for a tough Serbian electorate and the church’s favor. Realistically, they are now in a worse situation than the DF, to whom the door is open to improve.
URA is aware that it has sunk deep into the embrace of Greater Serbia, although some of the leaders would now prefer to get out of it.
The withdrawal of the amendments to the Law on Local Self-Government, which would postpone the elections in three municipalities, has also showed that the government is in total disarray. The DPS will nearly by itself have to try to preserve Mojkovac and Petnjica, where the SDP does not exist. While in Cetinje, the sovereignist bloc goes in four or five columns. Anything but a dramatic drop in support for URA and the Democrats in Cetinje would be a defeat for the sovereignist forces.
On the other hand, the DPS was criticized by Escobar, not so much directly as through regional and Montenegrin analysts and NGO leaders, who read in Escobar’s messages that the party’s reform was still unfinished, although Escobar significantly softened his rhetoric on the Vijesti show.
The DF, perhaps mostly PZP, doesn’t care about Escobar’s messages as we can see it. In their speeches, they announce the overthrow of the government’s economic plans and the blocking of policies.
Insulting Raonic at the stadium
Last night, the police brought several people for an informative conversation due to last night’s incident with the general director of the national broadcaster, Boris Raonic. We remind you that on Saturday night, a group of fans of the Montenegrin national team insulted Raonic as he tried to enter the east stand of the Stadium under Gorica before the match against the Netherlands.
Carevic wants resident of Mojkovac to be the mayor of Budva
One of the options for resolving the political crisis in Budva could be for the Budva parliament speaker Krsto Radovic to resign, for the mayor Marko Bato Carevic to resign, and for Nikola Jovanovic to be elected the new mayor. This was confirmed by Carevic, emphasizing that he is ready to withdraw, but not fully, and claims that others who, as he said, entered politics to satisfy personal interests and who have cooperated with the DPS regime for decades should withdraw first.
Petar Ivanovic’s immunity lifted
The MPs of the Parliament of Montenegro voted for lifting the immunity of the MP of the Democratic Party of Socialists, Petar Ivanovic. A total of 57 MPs voted in favor, while one was against. DPS MPs also voted for lifting Ivanovic’s immunity. During the session, Ivanovic on his own initiative requested that Parliament vote to lift the immunity, which, as he pointed out, he is renouncing for the third time.
CdM was right: VAT will rise
Minister of Finance and Social Welfare Milojko Spajic confirmed the writing of CdM that the VAT rate for hotel industry facilities, i.e. for food and beverage services in restaurants and facilities where food and beverage services are provided, will be re-increased from 7% to 21%. He announced that the general rate of value added tax (VAT), which is 21%, will not change.
That’s it for today. See you again tomorrow at the same time, in the same place.
