After 20 years, Montenegrin President Djukanovic loses his hometown in local elections

The leader of the Democratic Front (DF), Andrija Mandic, told a news conference last night that after 20 years of his party in power in Niksic, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic has been defeated in elections held in that town.

"We have succeeded and together with the third-placed list of Prime Minister Krivokapic we can form a majority in this town," said Mandic and added that conditions have been created for Marko Kovacevic to become the mayor.

He pointed out that the DF was never running way from wider coalition alliances.

"This government will as soon as tomorrow start working for the good of all citizens," said the leader of the DF and asked citizens to disperse and continue their celebrations at home.

"Liberation of Niksic"

The leader of the list "Peace is Our Nation" Momo Koprivica congratulated on the victory and the "liberation of Niksic" and a confirmation of the results from the August 30 (parliamentary elections).

He said that this was a "victory and then some," a victory of all citizens of Niksic, of civic, progressive forces, and that they saw the biggest possible increase in votes compared to parliamentary elections - by about 4,500.

"Our activists defended themselves"

Last night, the "For the Future of Niksic (ZBNK)" coalition denied the allegations of the "European Team for Niksic" coalition who said that three ZBNK activists beat one of their members with a pistol and said that three activists of that coalition were instead attacked by those of (Djukanovic's party) DPS in Morakovo.

"Two of them were forced to defend themselves, because they were first verbally and then physically attacked. They got blocked by a car, which prevented them from moving. They were surrounded by five cars that DPS activists got out of, and started insulting them based on their nationality," said a statement, Vijesti is reporting.

"DPS has lost power"

Leader of the Civic Movement URA Dritan Abazovic said last night, replying to journalists who asked whether he expected an invitation to join the local government in Niksic, that they are willing to help but also that they want to preserve the principles they are fighting for.

"If they invite us - good, if not, they have enough mandates to form a government on their own and we congratulate them. I see no reason to impose ourselves. We inherit different values, especially in relation to one bloc. We are willing to help, but we are also more than interested in preserving all the principles we are fighting for," Abazovic told the press conference.

He congratulated the winners on the result they achieved.

"Citizens deserved to be represented by a different government in the coming period, I think that the DPS is generally over, that this is the beginning of their fall in other local governments," he stressed.

He said that he was satisfied with the results that saw the coalition "Black on White" win one seat in the local assembly. Abazovic said that their list was the the one that came under attack during the election campaign the most.

"During all these attacks, we managed to keep our voters and slightly improve the result. The goal has been achieved - the DPS has lost power, the SDP has disappeared from the political scene," said Abazovic.

(Telegraf.rs)