Last night, official of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Petar Odžić was elected president of the newly formed Budva parliament after a lengthy six-hour session, setting the stage for government formation and the anticipated election of mayor, likely to be Nikola Jovanović.

Odžić secured the votes not only from his party colleague but also from nine councilors from the coalition “Budva our city – Nikola Jovanović” and a councilor from URA. Additionally, Živan Mudreš, who chaired the session, along with seven councilors from the Democratic Party of Socialists, supported his election.

The votes from the DPS, which had been in opposition in Budva for eight years, were pivotal in establishing the parliament, effectively unblocking its operations after two election processes held in May and November of the previous year.

Two councilors from the “Movement for the City – Đorđe Zenović” opposed the election, while members from the coalitions “For the Future of Budva” and “Democrats – PES” vacated the assembly chamber just before voting commenced.

Jovanović’s coalition, comprising the European Alliance (SDP, Social Democrats, and Liberal Party) along with URA, firmly believes they are central to the future government and welcome anyone who aligns with their platform.

Conversely, the DPS refutes claims of their involvement in the government, with their list leader Nikola Milović emphasizing that his previous statements on election night have been upheld—”without DPS, there is no stable government in Budva.”

When asked if he would support Nikola Jovanović for mayor, Milović noted, “that is another issue we can discuss.”

“This evening, we finalized the election of the president of the Budva Municipal Council. If a robust development platform arises, we will evaluate it and make a decision as a serious party,” Milović articulated last night.

In response to inquiries about his anticipated role in the future local governance, given that DPS is included in the government, Milović clarified, “We are neither part of the government nor do we have a coalition agreement, nor will we extend minority support to anyone.”

“We present ourselves as a serious party, ready for dialogue,” emphasized Milović.

After the session, Jovanović declared his intention to run for mayor.

“With Mr. Odžić’s election, we have successfully constituted the local parliament. We have finally put an end to the practice of waiting on the Government for session convenings. I can confidently say that this is the initial step towards government stabilization and the election of a key body, namely the Municipality President. I expect we will call a session promptly and seek support from all parliament members to elect a president based on our platform,” Jovanović stated.

When asked about his candidacy, Jovanović replied that it is highly likely. “We will present our platform at the earliest opportunity. Timeliness is crucial,” he affirmed.

The newly elected Budva parliament head, Petar Odžić, mentioned that a session to elect the municipality’s mayor will occur once they have 11 signatures from councilors endorsing a candidacy.

When questioned about the European Union’s support for Jovanović as mayor, Odžić responded that he had not yet received information regarding Jovanović’s candidacy for mayor.

“If that comes to pass, the European Union will lend its support,” Odžić highlighted.

Božović has submitted his resignation.

The current mayor, Milo Božović, who has been in pretrial detention since April 13, 2023, on accusations related to a drug gang, does not hold a mandate extending to 2026.

For Jovanović to ascend as the primary leader of Budva, either Božović must resign, or the local parliament must vote to remove him.

“Vijesti” has received confirmation from several sources indicating that Božović has indeed submitted his resignation and will hand over his position to the close party associate, Jovanović.

Božović’s involvement in the political dynamics of Budva notably intensified at the beginning of December last year, following the dismissal of the then Vice President of the Municipality, Jasna Dokić, after her departure from the “Budva Our City” group due to opposition to a coalition with the DPS.

On the same day, while in detention, Božović appointed Nikola Jovanović, leader of “Budva our city,” as his deputy.

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