Jakic: You can’t head to Brussels while renouncing your own home

The interview with Jugoslav Jakic, President of the Municipality of Savnik, focuses on the 20^th anniversary of Montenegro’s independence, local governance, political tensions, and development plans.

Jakic argues that Independence Day is not a party or ideological holiday, but the foundation of modern, civic Montenegro. He criticises local and state-level actors who refuse to mark the date, saying this reflects misunderstanding of their role in state institutions. He warns that one cannot pursue European Union integration while rejecting the state’s own foundations and symbols.

He says the 21 May referendum was a democratic milestone and that Montenegro today is a NATO member on a clear EU path. However, he stresses that building the state is an ongoing process and that today’s greater challenge is preserving institutions, strengthening the rule of law, and maintaining civic values. According to him, statehood is defended not through rhetoric but through functioning institutions, trust, and responsible governance.

Speaking about Savnik’s Independence Day programme, he says the municipality will mark the date with a balanced cultural and civic programme aimed at unity, not division. Events will include a formal academy, performances by the band Perper and singer Marija Serifovic, cultural activities, student competitions, and visual installations. The goal is to include citizens, especially youth, and strengthen community identity.

Commenting on other municipalities and officials who do not celebrate Independence Day, Jakic says each political actor is responsible for their own stance, but insists that ignoring the holiday shows a lack of understanding of state responsibility. He calls such behaviour “strategic confusion” and says European integration requires respect for national institutions and symbols.

On the situation in Savnik, he says the municipality continues to function normally despite an unresolved electoral crisis since 2022. Local services, administration, and projects are operating, and the focus remains on citizens’ everyday needs rather than political disputes.

Regarding the political deadlock, he maintains that the only solution is elections in 2027 under fair conditions. He says electoral reform is currently blocked and warns that similar crises exist in other municipalities, making this a national issue rather than only a local one. He stresses the importance of protecting electoral integrity and completing democratic reforms tied to EU accession.

On youth policy, Jakic says the municipality does not aim to keep young people only through financial incentives, but by creating conditions comparable to larger cities: education, infrastructure, cultural and sports facilities, and digital development. He says young people should choose to stay because they see a future, not because they lack alternatives.

He also outlines key development projects, including social housing, additional residential buildings, road reconstruction, water supply investments in rural areas, construction of pedestrian paths, and an upcoming youth center. The most significant project is the Bijela wind park, which he says will position Savnik in the renewable energy sector and create new economic opportunities.

Overall, Jakic presents Savnik as a municipality focused on stability, development, and civic values, while strongly defending the significance of Montenegro’s independence and criticizing political actors who, in his view, undermine state symbols while supporting European integration.