DNP holds four seats in parliament.
Montenegro’s pro-Serb Democratic People’s Party (DNP), led by MP Milan Knežević, said it will leave the country’s governing coalition after clashes during protests in the municipality of Zeta near Podgorica over the start of a wastewater treatment plant project.
Prime Minister Milojko Spajić praised police for a “phenomenal” response after 54 people were detained for attempting to block works. Police said those held would be released after questioning, adding they used the “mildest coercive measures” and acted within the law.
Knežević, backing the protesters, briefly entered a police vehicle after residents and local officials, including Zeta mayor Mihailo Asanović and residents’ representative Jagoš Bećirović, were detained, Beta reported. He later left the police van.
Authorities say the EU-funded project is meant to curb untreated sewage flowing into the Morača River and Lake Skadar, but Zeta residents voted against it in a non-binding local referendum on December 15, citing safety concerns. The plant is to be built by Turkish consortium Kuzu Group and is seen as important for closing EU accession Chapter 27 on the environment; cancelling the contract could cost Podgorica the EU grant and loan and trigger compensation of 100 million euros.
DNP holds four seats in parliament, meaning the government would face a serious risk only if the nine MPs of New Serb Democracy also quit the coalition. Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vučić voiced support for Knežević, saying he stood by him. | BGNES