The leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) expressed hope that the party will restore some of its previously lost trust in the near future with the goal of regaining power.

This statement followed a session held by the DPS Presidency.

According to Vijesti, the nominees for the new DPS Presidency include party MPs Nermin Abdić, Nikola Milović, Nikola Rakočević, and Oskar Huter, along with Šavnik’s mayor Jugoslav Jakić, DPS leaders from Mojkovac and Bar, Predrag Smolović and Mladen Đuričić, the head of the Plav parliament Alen Balić, and former Andrijevica Municipality president Srđan Mašović.

The new DPS Presidency will not feature prior members such as former Justice Minister Zoran Pažin, ex-Bijelo Polje leader Aleksandar Žurić, former Defense Minister Predrag Bošković, MP Nikola Janović, Professor Draško Došljak, and former Director General of the Minority Rights Directorate Leon Đokaj.

“Today, we appointed a new composition of the Presidency during the Main Board meeting. This operational body is crucial for the functioning and work of our party, and I am confident that it will significantly contribute to our main aim of regaining voter trust and returning to power. In the upcoming period, we will focus on personnel renewal,” Živković remarked at a press conference.

When asked why Janović, Pažin, and Bošković were not included in the Presidency, he explained that the president selects members and that it is a challenging task since the most effective team must be chosen. He noted that their base consists of 20,000 members and believes that this team will best assist DPS in regaining power.

“Janović, Bošković, and Pažin are individuals who have held significant positions both in the executive branch and in the parliamentary and political life of Montenegro. They will all contribute fully to our primary mission—upholding the law in Montenegro. Positions can change, and the key is to enhance the operational capacity of this body,” he stated, adding that this is not the final count of members in the Presidency and that it will expand.

In response to a journalist’s inquiry, Živković stated that they anticipate a decisive victory in the upcoming local elections in Nikšić, aiming for over 40 percent support.

“The public does not favor those who are in power,” he added.

Regarding the issue of double voters, he stated that they had alerted the Police Directorate, which in turn informed the prosecutor’s office, suggesting that there were no criminal liability elements detected but that they would continue to work toward a resolution of the issue in collaboration with the NGO sector, as there are individuals voting in Montenegro, Serbia, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

“In the near future, we will carefully address the issue of double voters,” he emphasized.

He recalled that discussions of phantom voters occurred before 2020, but the opposition ceased their claims once they attained power.

“Some may argue that the DPS also bears some responsibility. If we had known what we know now, we would have tackled the problem earlier,” Živković remarked.

He noted that he would inform the relevant authorities about double-registered voters in Nikšić, mentioning that the topic should also be raised in Parliament.

When reporters asked if he would return to parliamentary life, Živković indicated that this would depend on negotiations between the government and opposition, pointing out that they had already discussed possible solutions to the constitutional crisis that arose “when the Constitutional Committee assumed the powers of the Constitutional Court.”

“It is essential for the opposition to be actively engaged in parliamentary work, but we cannot allow the majority to violate the Constitution, act arrogantly, or disrupt the legal order,” Živković stressed.

He added that they would wait to see the outcome of the discussions, stating that their ultimate goal is for Montenegro to join the European Union.

He highlighted that they requested to set aside divisive issues until EU accession, but it is uncertain if Mandić would address them.

“This hinges on potential agreements between the government and opposition and fulfilling our demands,” he concluded.

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