DEBATE AHEAD OF THE SECOND ROUND: Đukanović tells Milatović: Montenegro can only be civic, not dependent on Serbia and one religious community

(Patria) - A presidential debate was held on the public service of Montenegro, TVCG, between the candidates in the second round of Sunday's elections, Milo Đukanović (DPS) and Jakov Milatović (Europe Now Movement).

Đukanović stated that he would be responsible towards the state interests of Montenegro.

“Anyone who adheres to the Constitution and laws cannot make a mistake when it comes to the relationship with all citizens of Montenegro. There are several prominent examples that show how I have done this in the past. When we established the economic self-sustainability of Montenegro in 1994, and later introduced the euro, we did it in the interest of the citizens of Montenegro,” he emphasized.

When we accepted 120,000 refugees and shared what we had with them, we showed solidarity and proved the strength of the state and society, he added.

“When we restored independence, we created conditions for every citizen to express their opinion on that issue, and later provided equal living conditions in an independent Montenegro. When we joined NATO, we did it for the benefit of all citizens of Montenegro, guaranteeing them a higher degree of safety and security. When we built the highway, it was done to ensure better travel conditions for every citizen of Montenegro,” said Đukanović.

He stressed that they had initiated the country's accession process to the EU, but the previous two years had thwarted them in that regard, thanks to inadequate governance. As he said, he sees politics as an activity for the benefit of all citizens.

“Montenegro became the 192nd member of the UN, NATO, and I believe it will be the next member of the EU. I believe that Montenegro must remain a civic state, it must belong to every citizen, it must remain a multi-ethnic society, and that is the best response to the great-state projects that have reawakened. I believe I will win on April 2nd, and that I will continue to lead Montenegro in the direction I have been doing so far,” stated Đukanović.

Milatović said that both Đukanović and he know well that the DPS candidate will not win the elections on April 2nd.

“You know that you have to run the last lap of your political career, and I, along with all the citizens of Montenegro who look to the future, will become the president of all citizens of Montenegro for the first time. I just need to do what you haven't done, and that's enough to show that a person should be the president of all citizens. Do you remember what our economy was like in 2020, when the regime change occurred in Montenegro? The state of our economy, Mr. Đukanović, was dramatic,” he said.

According to him, the standard of living was incredibly low, every fourth citizen lived on the brink of poverty, and the economy lost almost 800 million euros in 2020 alone due to your disastrous economic policy.

“Unemployment was almost 20 percent. What I, in terms of inclusivity, did with my colleague Spajić, as members of the Government, we initiated the recovery. In 2021, we had historic economic growth in Europe. In this way, I showed how the economy is managed in Montenegro for the public interest,” Milatović underlined.

Đukanović said that he is pleased with Milatović's optimism, which is completely unrealistic and unfounded, regarding his victory in the elections, because it gives him additional space in what he is completely sure of – a clear victory in Sunday's elections.

“You said you would do many things that I haven't done. You have already done things in these two and a half years that I haven't and never would. As a person representing the parliamentary majority of August 30, 2020, which can best be described as a clerical-nationalist parliamentary majority, you have tried to derail Montenegro from its European path, to take it backward. You are falsely presenting yourself as a candidate of the future, while in reality, you are trying to return Montenegro to the Middle Ages, to darkness and the past,” Đukanović claimed.

According to him, the best evidence of the economic results of the government after the 2020 elections is that Montenegro today has a devastated healthcare system and a destroyed educational system.

“You have driven away investors, you have shut down businesses. Unemployment increased during your time, and your talk about a scorched earth policy before you came to power speaks to your arrogance and self-importance. As if Montenegro had been waiting for your arrival for all these centuries, for you to snap your fingers and say ‘Europe now’ and that’s what’s happening here. You overlook that from 2006 to 2020, the average salary increased by 100 percent. There were 11 billion euros in investments,” said Đukanović.

He said that at the time when Đukanović was starting as Prime Minister of Montenegro, the country had serious companies and hotels.

“After 35 years of your economic management, these factories and hotels are gone. Jakov Milatović did not manage Montenegro during that time, but you know who did, Milo Đukanović and his government,” Milatović said.

Đukanović retorted that “you associate me with the nineties, and I associate you with the darkness of the Middle Ages.”

“You said you entered politics on the wave of magnificent processions, which aimed to actually return Montenegro to the Middle Ages, to make it a theocratic state, dependent on one religious community. Secondly, I have already said that I seriously doubt who you are. It is very difficult for me to grasp your true identity. You have a problem with obviously false representation. Now I wonder if you have ever seen Oxford, because if you had seen Oxford, you wouldn't be asking me what you are asking me now,” Đukanović concluded.

“As for future cooperation, our hand is extended to all who advocate for the values of civic Montenegro. It depends on Europe Now how they will respond to this call,” said Đukanović.

He stated that Milatović falsely wants to present himself as a man of the future, while in reality, he is doing everything to take Montenegro backward. Đukanović stated that the greatest success of the current and previous government is that the negotiations with the EU have not been suspended, which speaks volumes.

“And when it comes to himself, Milatović has a problem with himself, because his father voted for a common state, and he for state independence, probably to please a part of the public. That is why the question arises, whom has Mr. Milatović deceived, and I think we have a problem with a man who is a cautionary tale of the false Tsar Šćepan Mali. I think most citizens of Montenegro are not gullible, and I certainly am not,” Đukanović stated.

Đukanović is convinced that he will lead Montenegro into the EU during his next term.

“An important condition for membership is improved rule of law and the fight against crime and corruption,” Đukanović added.

Đukanović says that Montenegro pursues good neighborly policy and builds the best relations with all its neighbors.

“The exception is the faltering relations with Serbia due to renewed Greater Serbian aspirations towards Montenegro. I hope Serbia will turn more towards Europe. I have a negative stance towards the Open Balkan Initiative. It is a political initiative inspired by Belgrade. In contrast, we have the Berlin Process, CEFTA, and Montenegro prefers to be part of these initiatives,” Đukanović emphasized.

Đukanović states that he will secure investments in the same way he has secured them in all previous years. He mentioned 11 billion in foreign direct investments.

“Powerful foreign investors came to Montenegro. Aman, One and Only, the built marina Porto Montenegro, the highway section, the undersea cable… Now Montenegro has lost credibility. That is why we need a new Government that will start to act responsibly and prudently towards the needs of Montenegro,” he stated.

As he points out, the way the development policy has been conducted in the past two years is frightening.

“I believe that Milatović, along with that political group, has caused serious damage,” Đukanović added.

Milatović announced his assets and asked Đukanović if he could say what he and his family own.

“I entered politics with a clean biography and a clear conscience. Can you, Mr. Đukanović, also say that?” Milatović said.

Milatović says that in 2015, due to organized crime and corruption, the EU almost froze the integration process.

Đukanović says that Milatović's cheap political propaganda amuses him.

“You should take care of Montenegro's reputation. It is impossible for someone to join NATO with the characteristics you are presenting the country with. You ask me about acquiring the first million, everything is declared, I declared the income I earned, everything is registered, more than 10 years have passed since then, and no competent authority has found anything illegal in it, and you are referring to information from tabloids that have sided with you,” Đukanović emphasized.