# Podgorica political crisis over mayor > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/montenegro-municipal-governance-crisis > Updated: 2026-07-29T08:15:37.000Z. Sources: 14. Developments: 14. The crisis began on 26 May when Assembly president Jelena Borovinić Bojović resigned and demanded Mayor Saša Mujović step down. Coalition maneuvers led to Srđan Perić’s election as Assembly president on 21 June, stripping Mujović’s coalition of its majority. The mayor and Perić pledged fully public communication between the City Administration and the City Parliament, while Mujović appointed his cabinet chief Vesna Brajović as president of FK Budućnost, clearing the club’s €1.55 million debt with airport funds and municipal loans. In early July the Democratic Party of Socialists moved to annul the Assembly’s consent for a quarry on Morišnja hill, citing zoning violations, lack of an environmental impact assessment and alleged conflicts of interest. The proposal called for a new legal review by the City Asset Directorate and will be debated at the next Assembly session. Later in July the City Assembly, Ministry of Culture and the national government faced controversy over the proposed renaming of the Narodna biblioteka "Radosav Ljumović". The library council advocated replacing the anti‑fascist poet’s name with that of Vojvoda Marko Miljanov Popović, sparking accusations of historical revisionism from cultural groups and the local URA. The council formally presented the name‑change proposal on 3 July and voted to adopt the amendment on 6 July, though the change cannot take effect without Assembly approval. The Party of European Progress announced it would file an initiative to dismiss council members for alleged procedural breaches. The dispute continued into late July 2026 when the library council voted to reject the renaming and Mayor Mujović affirmed the council’s stance ahead of the upcoming Assembly session. A City Assembly Committee for Election and Appointments subsequently decided not to propose the dismissal of any council members, allowing the council to remain intact amid the ongoing political contention. ## Timeline ### 2026-07-29: Podgorica Library Council Rejects Name Change Amid Political Dispute Podgorica's library council voted against renaming the Radosav Ljumović library, and the city committee rejected a motion to dismiss its members. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-library-council-rejects-name-change-amid-political-dispute ### 2026-07-06: Podgorica library renaming triggers political controversy Podgorica's National Library voted to rename itself after Marko Miljanov, prompting public outcry and a SEP initiative to dismiss the council members over legal and transparency concerns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-library-renaming-triggers-political-controversy ### 2026-07-04: Montenegro capital officials deny claims city pays 'bot' contractors Podgorica officials denied Srđan Perić's claim that the city hires an 'army of bots' via contracts, calling the accusation baseless and urging EU condemnation. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/montenegro-capital-officials-deny-claims-city-pays-bot-contractors ### 2026-07-03: Podgorica Library Faces Controversial Renaming Proposal Podgorica's Radosav Ljumović Library faces a contested proposal to rename it after Vojvoda Marko Miljanov, sparking political and cultural backlash over heritage preservation. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-library-faces-controversial-renaming-proposal ### 2026-07-02: Podgorica council seeks to void quarry approval on Morišnja hill in Kučima Podgorica DPS members propose canceling the approval for a quarry on Morišnja hill, citing legal, environmental and conflict‑of‑interest concerns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-council-seeks-to-void-quarry-approval-on-morinja-hill-in-kuima ### 2026-06-26: Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović Expands Influence Over City Institutions and FK Budućnost Mayor Saša Mujović appoints Vesna Brajović to lead FK Budućnost, clearing its debt with municipal loans, while he and Assembly president Srđan Perić pledge transparent communication despite unchanged political差 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-mayor-and-assembly-head-agree-on-transparent-communication ### 2026-06-21: Podgorica council loses majority as opposition elects new speaker; Pula mayor's wealth detailed Podgorica’s mayor loses assembly majority as opposition installs new speaker; Pula’s mayor Peđa Grbin’s extensive property and crypto holdings are disclosed. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-council-loses-majority-as-opposition-elects-new-speaker-pula-mayors-wealth-detailed ### 2026-06-20: Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović’s Performance Report Sparks Political Debate Montenegro officials praise Podgorica mayor Saša Mujović’s work report, claim it’s transparent, and warn political opponents may use forced‑administration arguments against him. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-mayor-saa-mujovis-performance-report-sparks-political-debate ### 2026-06-18: Podgorica political dispute escalates as opposition decries forced administration plan Montenegro opposition leaders criticize the government’s forced‑administration plan for Podgorica, calling it harmful and promising upcoming reforms to restore dignity. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-political-dispute-escalates-as-opposition-decries-forced-administration-plan ### 2026-06-16: Podgorica Assembly Candidate Srđan Perić Faces Opposition Over Presidency Vote Srđan Perić seeks the Podgorica Assembly presidency, claiming it avoids a forced administration, but the movement Pokret za Podgoricu refuses to back him, citing coalition concerns. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-assembly-candidate-sran-peri-faces-opposition-over-presidency-vote ### 2026-06-13: Srđan Perić secures backing from multiple parties for Podgorica city council presidency Srđan Perić gains support from SEP, DPS and opposition groups for Podgorica City Assembly presidency, with conditions for a transparent recovery plan and opposition to a forced administration. 4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/montenegro-opposition-group-preokret-proposes-plan-to-stop-forced-administration-of-podgorica ### 2026-06-11: Podgorica coalition forms to oust Mayor Saša Mujović PES announced a coalition with DPS, DNP and others to back Srđan Perić for City Assembly president and replace Mayor Saša Mujović in Podgorica. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-coalition-forms-to-oust-mayor-saa-mujovi ### 2026-06-11: Podgorica city assembly faces political standoff over forced administration DNP accuses PES of pushing Podgorica toward forced administration; Srđan Perić says he has DNP and DPS support to become city assembly president and proposes reforms to avert the crisis. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-city-assembly-faces-political-standoff-over-forced-administration ### 2026-05-26: Podgorica mayor faces resignation calls as assembly president steps down Assembly president Jelena Borovinić Bojović resigned, saying Podgorica's ruling coalition lacks a majority and legitimacy; opposition leader Miloš Mašković demanded mayor Saša Mujović also step down, accusing a 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/podgorica-mayor-faces-resignation-calls-as-assembly-president-steps-down --- Cite as: Podgorica political crisis over mayor. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/montenegro-municipal-governance-crisis