Perić: Part of the authorities are using Botun to raise political tensions

The issue of constructing a wastewater treatment plant in Botun has opened a series of social, environmental and political dilemmas, while also exposing the way in which important issues are abused for day-to-day political purposes. The leader of the Preokret movement and councillor in the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica Srđan Perić warned in an interview for Portal ETV that behind the alleged concern for citizens lies irresponsible politics, a loss of trust, and dangerous populism that is now coming at a cost.

Separating genuine citizens’ concerns from political manipulation

Perić stresses that the concerns of the residents of Botun must be clearly separated from political manipulation, that trust can be restored exclusively through dialogue and binding guarantees, and that the current protests by part of the authorities against their own authorities represent an example of political hypocrisy.

He reminds that there were several institutional opportunities to resolve the issue of the collector’s location earlier, but that these were deliberately missed, which is why citizens are paying the price today.

Dialogue and guarantees as the only path to trust

- When we talk about the issue of the collector, that is, the wastewater treatment plant, it is necessary to separate the concerns of the residents of Botun from the political narrative that has been created around this case - said Srđan Perić, leader of the Preokret movement and councillor in the Assembly of the Capital City of Podgorica, speaking to Portal ETV.

He emphasized that dialogue with citizens is essential and that their inclusion in the process is necessary.

- Citizens should and must be engaged in dialogue, it is essential that they are included in the process, trust must be restored, and the best way to do this is through written and binding guarantees regarding what is agreed upon - Perić said.

Decades of institutional neglect of Zeta

He also recalled the long-standing problems endured by the residents of Zeta.

- For decades, the people of Zeta have suffered due to institutional neglect, during that period they sustained serious damage, and the state must do everything it can to rehabilitate the red mud basin, ensure that there is no disposal of hazardous materials within the Aluminum plant  complex, and establish concrete criteria to ensure that guarantees are fulfilled exactly as agreed - he stated.

A careful approach instead of politics of humiliation

Perić reiterated that the approach must be extremely cautious.

- I repeat, the approach must be very careful in order to establish communication with citizens that strengthens trust, rather than destroys it, and that does not humiliate either side. Only this is the path to a long-term sustainable solution - Perić said.

The collector as a tool for pre-election mobilization

Speaking about the political dimension of the problem, Perić said it is clear that this issue has served part of the authorities to raise political rhetoric.

- This topic has been used by part of the authorities to escalate rhetoric, which may help them enter a year preceding elections with an identity-based theme and reposition themselves within the governing structure - he said.

The paradox of power: protesting against one’s own authority

According to him, we are witnessing a paradoxical situation.

- We are now seeing those who are part of the authorities protesting against the very authorities from which they draw power and privileges, with the intention of forming the same government after the elections with those they are currently „at odds“ with - Perić said.

Identity politics as preparation for post-election coalitions

He further explained this political pattern.

- Identity issues have now been brought to the forefront, there is talk of national endangerment, starting positions are being secured to run a campaign on these topics, only to then - mind you -form a coalition with the very same actors you are currently criticizing - Perić said,

He recalls that this model had already been seen in previous local elections in Podgorica.

- At that time, the list led by the President of the state ultimately formed the majority government with those it had strongly and quite justifiably criticized throughout the entire campaign - he added.

Missed institutional opportunities and political responsibility

Perić reminded that the political actors who today oppose the construction of the collector had several opportunities to express their position institutionally.

- They had the opportunity to express that position during the vote on the Spatial Plan in the Government and in Parliament, then during the adoption of the Podgorica Spatial-Urban Plan, and finally during the adoption of the Capital City’s budget - Perić said.

Silence of the authorities during key public debates

As he noted, all these documents directly or indirectly imply precisely that location.

- Additionally, no one from the authorities objected when the public debate regarding the Podgorica Spatial-Urban Plan was moved to the offices of the Ministry, which was an opportunity at the end of 2024 to discuss this topic in detail - he said.

Time pressure as a consequence of political hesitation

Perić added that after the change of government in 2020 there was a real chance to open this issue in a timely manner.

- Before the contract with the contractor was signed, this topic could have been brought to the forefront. None of that happened, instead, it was allowed to reach a state of time pressure - Perić said.

The price of populism paid by citizens today

He also recalled the shifting positions of holders of executive power.

- The Prime Minister and the Mayor promised that the collector would not be built at that location if citizens were opposed, and later they revised that position. We are now paying the price of populism - he said.

Exposing such politics as a condition for protecting the public interest

Finally, Perić emphasized that exposing this type of politics is of crucial importance.

- It is very important to expose this kind of politics in order to overcome it and to turn toward solutions - Perić said, adding that such a political shift would be in the interest of citizens, while the power of party maneuvering would be reduced to a level that does not endanger the public interest.