You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous weekend.
By Ljubomir Filipović, CdM observer
These days, from the official state addresses and the official profiles of the ministries on social networks there has been shouted “worthy”, that the question is asked how worthy some people really are of the functions they perform. And this is not our subjective judgment. The Democratic Front (DF) has long considered the Prime Minister unworthy of office, and with last week’s performance in Belgrade, he convinced them even more. Mr Andrija Mandić is now asking the Prime Minister to apologize to Patriarch Porfirije, while Mr Milan Knežević goes a step further and says that the Prime Minister “encourages church separatism”. It remains to be seen whether the Prime Minister’s only remaining admirer, Mr Željko Ivanović, also provoked Mr Knežević‘s anger over the weekend, or whether this is another intra-Vučić play. For now, everything seems like a well-coordinated show. The DF is protesting as if defending Serbia, the Prime Minister, the Democrats and URA are defending Montenegro from Mr Vučić – the wolf is full and no sheep are missing.
In the meantime, Bishop Joanikije has become Metropolitan Joanikije, while Bishop Metodije has been elected Bishop of Budimlje and Nikšić. During the lives of Metropolitan Amfilohije and Atanasije, this would be a sign that the opposition, hardline nationalist current within the Serbian Orthodox Church has won. However, Joanikije‘s attack on the Prime Minister, that is, fencing off from him, has showed that the oppositionists inside the church still tucked Mr Vučić‘s tail between his legs. This can be seen in the statement of the rector of the Cetinje seminary, Fr. Gojko Perović, who also simmered down. Finally, the illusion of autonomous Serbism in Montenegro and of new winds in the Serbian church, which was built for a long time and dedicatedly by the pro-government media, and quasi-civilian politicians and activists of Black on White and Democrats has been dispelled.
The Serbian Church is centralizing in response to these failed so-called reformist influences. Joanikije has not received the status of archbishop, episcopal councils are abolished. Paradoxically, all those who participate in this cheap play with the Fundamental Agreement and other things seem to have betrayed everything that the late Metropolitan Amfilohije did.
While the young falcons in the church are militarizing and implementing Serbian state policy, Mr Abazović and his team are cheering. The Democrats are writing a statement in which they say that if the Serbian church is satisfied, they are satisfied as well.
Turncoats
URA used the transfer of several members of the Bosniak Party (BS) to point out how its support from minority nations is increasing. The BS immediately replied that URA hereby covered up the abandonment of its founders and they were right. People who are currently joining the ruling parties talk the most about themselves. Preservation of privileges, fear from the consequences of inaction in the previous period is a great ticket to success in the new Government. According to the experience of Budva, I can tell you that the oppositionists of yesterday will be most happy with the worst ones from the previous Government. And only the worst can change party jerseys so easily, when their old party joined the opposition.
Pressure on media continues
Everything about threats and insults to domestic and foreign journalists, wiretapping, etc. has not cooled down yet. DPM Dritan Abazović is again under attack on critical media, probably ready to inspire some more death threats, and the like. During the parliamentary session, he attacked the national broadcaster again, stressing that he is ashamed of what it is like. He called on Parliament to change the RTCG Council, and if they can’t do that, he is clearly telling them – may it never exist. During the weekend, DPM Abazović shouted at the journalists again. This time, the victim was a journalist from the N1 Sarajevo desk, who provoked the Deputy Prime Minister with a question about Srebrenica.
Continuation of Bratić’s nationalist staffing
Ms Slavica Ilinčić, the newly elected assistant Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports, decides on children in kindergartens and primary schools. The lady, who will lead the ministry dealing with 68,000 elementary school pupils and over 20,000 preschoolers, presents herself on social media through the burning of the NATO flag, insulting human rights defenders and members of the LGBT population and much more, including “liking” and thus agreeing with rude comments and swearing on her own FB page, says SD Presidency member Nermin Bećirović. In the CdM text, take a look at a part of Ms. Ilinčić‘s opus.
Nationalist party in Podgorica
Last night, significantly weakened Serbian nationalist columns celebrated the election of Joanikije in Podgorica and other cities. In Podgorica, it was celebrated in front of the temple, where during the celebration of the election results, people shouted “who doesn’t jump, he is Sh….r” and the like. Then it is not surprising that this insulting name for Albanians was used in the stands of the Budućnost stadium during last night’s match with Tuzi residents from Dečić. The fans of Budućnost, that is, one influential part of them, have fallen under the influence of the church, and the influence of the church obviously creates hatred towards the minority peoples in Montenegro.
That’s it for today. We wish you a pleasant rest of the day.
