You are reading a daily contextual review of the news that marked the previous day.
By Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM observer
For a couple of weeks now, the former Prime Minister and DPS MP Dusko Markovic has been actively participating in the public debate on the current political situation. Long before and after the elections and after the party congress, it was speculated whether Markovic had fallen out of favor with the party leadership, and whether he was in conflict with President Milo Djukanovic. People are now wondering whether Markovic is soloing in his performances or, as is usually the case in the DPS, communication at the highest level is carefully planned and coordinated. Further questions arise as to whether Markovic is an alternative that will expand the coalition capacity of the DPS, as announced by Zeljko Ivanovic, and whether the fear of those who think that Markovic could form his own party and thus give the DPS a part of support is justified?
What messages does Markovic send and who are they addressed to? As a leader, he is perceived as someone who has an open door when it comes to the NGO sector and the former opposition media, but within the party, in addition to admirers, he also has sharp critics. Markovic had his first notable appearance in the media on Vijesti TV, where he shyly extended his hand to the Democrats and URA, but also sent a message of reconciliation to the Serbian Orthodox Church, when he said that they almost reached an agreement during the religious processions.
Now, in a statement for RTCG, he is sending a message that he is the one who makes decisions and decides what to do, in accordance with the interests of the state.
I think that every unpredictable and independent move of Markovic is impossible at this moment. Djukanovic holds the strings firmly in his hands and he proved that at the congress. Also, any move to isolate and make a separate agreement with part of the government would be condemned in advance by the sovereign part of the public as a betrayal of national interests. Although it would be good for the DPS to help the minority URA and Democrats drive the DF out of power, the Democrats and URA cannot deliver that. Firstly, the relations between the Democrats and URA are catastrophic, and secondly, if the leadership of those parties decided to deliver such a decision, their membership in the wider decision-making bodies would eat them up, and in the long run only the DF would benefit.
The arrest of Perunicic and SDT’s press conference
The Special State Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that the former director of the National Security Agency (ANB) Dejan Perunicic was arrested yesterday. He is suspected of having committed the criminal offense of abuse of official position due to wiretapping the office of the Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic. Chief Special Prosecutor Milivoje Katnic reiterated that one wiretapping device was discovered in his office, and that it is being determined where that material ended up. He emphasized that it was not yet possible to say whether the former ANB official Luka Bulatovic killed himself or whether it was something else. He added that it would be determined whether the case had anything to do with wiretapping the office of the Chief Special Prosecutor.
We found out that the mayor of Zabljak is also under investigation on suspicion of having employed people illegally.
Also discussed were Pandora Papers and the recent arrests of police officials.
Murderers and robbers arrested
Yesterday, we found out who the perpetrators of the armed robbery in broad daylight in Niksic were. On that occasion one of the security workers was killed. One of the perpetrators was arrested in Bileca and the other in Herceg Novi. It is very symptomatic and should not be overlooked that both, as well as the victim, are part of the same circles close to the church, and that the attackers are allegedly members of a network of Orthodox Youth Organization, which in recent years has expanded its structure and drastically changed its nature – from the former drama organisation to a gathering place for criminals, and is used as a means of radicalizing the youth.
Sasa Damjanovic’s dismissal A
Aleksandar Damjanović, acting director of the Revenue and Customs Administration, was dismissed yesterday at the electronic session of the Government of Montenegro. He was replaced by Dusko Knezevic’s former executive assistant, Milena Petricevic. Damjanovic’s work in the administration was praised by both the opposition and the government, so it is not clear why he was fired. He himself is waiting for the Minister’s explanation for such a decision.
NGOs on EC Report
The government expected the lowest marks from the European Commission, and that is a worrying attitude towards integrations, said Dina Bajramspahic, a civil activist and member of the Working Group for Chapter 23. The ruling majority, she told City TV, pushed integration aside.
Director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO) Daliborka Uljarevic, speaking about the Progress Report as a guest on Different Radio Station said that it is the worst report Montenegro has ever received, and that this government will not push through the mandate.
That’s it for today. We wish you a pleasant weekend.
