Protests under the name #Resist 97000 ( Odupri se – 97 000 ) started five weeks ago as a public reaction on current political crisis and financial scandals involving government officials, the sitting President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic and Bank owner, the President of Atlas group Dusko Knezevic.
On March 21th, protesters called the opposition parties of Montenegro to join in one united effort and put a significant pressure on to the government. In a document named “A Deal for the Future” protesters have outlined some basic principles for future cooperation between the movement and the opposition. Protesters are asking for full boycott of all future elections: Presidential, parliamentary and local ones until their demands for technical government of civil unity are fully met.
VIDEO: 6th Civic protests of the movement Resist 9700 ( Odupri se 97000 )
The document titled “Deal for the Future”, reported by local news and media agency Vijesti.me states that signatories agree that the election of ministers in future government will be on a parity basis – one third of the representatives of the ruling majority, parliamentary opposition and non-party personalities.
It is stated that the position of prime minister of the government of civil unity, which will act in a limited mandate, cannot be held by a member of the political parties that are now in power.
The signatories, as envisaged by the agreement, will not participate in any election, local, state or presidential, scheduled before the fulfilment of their requests and before the government of civil unity is formed.
The agreement also stipulates that its signatories will not participate in any session of Montenegrin Parliament until the resolution of the political crisis and the fulfilment of their demands are fully met.
The agreement also states that “The Government of Civil Unity will not change the current foreign policy approach of Montenegro by its activity or decision,”
Majority of the opposition parties have already agreed to sign the document stating that: “It’s a good starting point for future cooperation”. Only one party from the opposition bloc DF Democratic Front hasn’t agreed to the terms of the agreement and are asking for new one to be created from the scratch.
Nevertheless all of the opposition parties are giving they support for the current and upcoming protests of Resist 97000 movement.
Earlier, protesters have demanded resignations of top country officials and asking for technical government to be put in place until next elections. Protesters are outraged by corruption allegations against the current ruling establishment, by social injustice, high living costs, price of electricity, bad living standard and lower wages. Protesters are asking from the opposition parties to leave the Parliament of Montenegro and boycott any further elections until their demands are not met.
Resignations are being asked from: President of Montenegro Milo Djukanovic, Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, Supreme and Special Prosecutors Ivica Stankovic and Milivoje Katnic, resignation from the director of Agency for the Prevention of Corruption Sreten Radonjic and the resignations from members of the Public Service Council and General Director of Montenegrin Radio Television Božidar Šundić.
Source Euronews: “Milo Đukanović’s rule is the longest among EU leaders. He has been in power in Montenegro for three decades, serving as prime minister from 1991 to 1998, as President from 1998 to 2002, as prime minister again in various governments between 2003 and 2016, before being re-elected president in May 2018. He is also the president of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro. He led the country to independence from Serbia in 2006 and his rule has largely gone unchallenged.”
A new protest has been announced for 31th March of 2019. So far, protests are peaceful.
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