The Nikšić Municipal Assembly (MA) session where the mandates of the new parliament councilors are to be confirmed is slated for today. However, it remains uncertain whether the election of the assembly’s head will take place during this meeting.

Zoran Mrkić, the leader of the Europe Now Movement (PES) list, stated yesterday on Montenegro Television that discussions regarding the formation of the local government and distribution of roles are ongoing with representatives from the “For the Future of Nikšić” (ZBNK) and the Democrats. Yet, none from these political groups have agreed to comment on possible agreements.

According to the election results, the presidency of the Municipal Assembly is expected to be held by PES based on the number of mandates secured.

A source close to the negotiations informed Vijesti late yesterday that no accord has been achieved regarding the government’s formation, making it highly likely that today’s assembly won’t lead to the elections. The source indicated there are “internal issues concerning personnel” within PES, claiming the party has not engaged in talks for nearly a month, lacks a negotiation team, and that disagreements exist between Mrkić and PES MP from Nikšić, Uglješa Urošević.

“There were no tripartite discussions apart from the party leaders’ meeting,” the source noted, referencing a meeting between Mrkić and the ZBNK and Democrats leaders, Marko Kovačević and Nemanja Vuković, that occurred on April 23.

When asked by “Vijesti” why a candidate for the Nikšić parliament’s head has yet to be agreed upon, PES did not provide a response, leaving open the possibility that internal disagreements within PES or between Mrkić and Urošević could be contributing factors.

In the local elections held on April 13, the Democratic Party of Socialists secured 16 council seats, ZBNK claimed 15, PES obtained five, the Democrats three, and the European Union two. With 41 council seats in the Nikšić parliament, at least 21 votes are required to establish a government. Should ZBNK, PES, and Democrats, who are partners in the state government, reach a consensus, they would hold a majority of 23 council seats.

Per the Law on Local Self-Government, a local assembly is considered constituted only upon the election of its president. This must occur within 60 days following the official publication of the election results. As the Nikšić election results were published on April 28, the deadline for establishing the municipal assembly will be June 27. Should this not be achieved, the President of Montenegro will call for new elections. Conversely, if the assembly is constituted, the councilors have a maximum of 30 days to elect the municipality’s head.

While awaiting government formation, the Ministry of Public Administration has initiated oversight of the Law on Local Self-Government in Nikšić. This follows a “Vijesti” report on May 17 that Marko Kovačević continues to act as the city’s leader despite his mandate expiring.

According to the same law, when a municipal president’s term expires, the vice president appointed by the local parliament will assume the role until a new president is elected.

Nikšić has two vice presidents – Zoran Tomić (Socialist People’s Party) and Mitar Goranović (Democrats). However, neither has been authorized by the municipal assembly to govern the city.

Neither Kovačević nor the Municipality of Nikšić has responded to “Vijesti”‘s inquiries regarding whether he has made any decisions post-mandate expiration.

Lawyer Boris Marić commented to “Vijesti” that “practice and life sometimes advance faster than the law,” acknowledging that Kovačević’s term has officially ended and, by law, the vice president should take over until a new mayor is chosen.

It’s important to note that if a municipality head’s term ends, a new appointment should occur no later than 30 days afterward. If this isn’t achieved, the local legislative body, at the government’s proposal or from councilors’ initiative, may vote to shorten its mandate.

“We are facing a unique situation here; these deadlines present themselves following the elections while additional timelines for the assembly’s constitution are active… You cannot dissolve an assembly that has a mandate that has lapsed and is already in a technical mandate. This suggests that all municipal bodies are presently functioning in a technical mandate. The conditions for the election of a new municipal president will be established only after the assembly is constituted and the assembly’s president is elected,” he stated.

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