The Botun Standoff: How Milan Knežević’s Populism Holds Podgorica Hostage To A Important Wastewater Undertaking – The Balkan

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Montenegro, a small Balkan country pushing toward European Union integration, is facing significant challenges from localized protests in the village of Botun that have become a flashpoint for broader governmental instability. As of late December 2025, these demonstrations against the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, commonly called a collector, have dragged on for nearly a month, featuring tent setups and community blockades that disrupt daily life and progress. At the heart of this unrest is the local populism spearheaded by Milan Knežević, the leader of the small Democratic People’s Party, whose inflammatory rhetoric and opportunistic maneuvering are undermining both local governance in Podgorica and the stability of the national government. Knežević has positioned himself as a vocal opponent, stirring up residents with threats to withdraw from power if the project proceeds, effectively holding the coalition hostage to his demands and overplaying his hand in a way that tests the state’s resolve.

His actions, including urging the prime minister to intervene and accusing authorities of criminal activities against the environment, exemplify a brand of populism that prioritizes short-term political gains over long-term national needs, fracturing alliances and amplifying divisions at a critical time for the country’s reforms.

The core issue revolves around the proposed collector in Botun, a facility essential for addressing Podgorica’s longstanding wastewater problems. The capital currently dumps untreated sewage into the Morača River, which flows into Lake Skadar, creating severe environmental hazards that demand urgent action. This plant represents a modern, EU-funded solution worth €33 million, designed to treat effluents and bring Montenegro in line with European environmental standards.

Botun stands out as the optimal location due to its proximity, geological suitability, and alignment with previously approved spatial plans—plans that many of the current opponents, including figures like Knežević, had supported in the past. Without this infrastructure, Podgorica risks forfeiting vital EU funds if construction does not commence by December 31, 2025, stalling progress on accession chapters and perpetuating pollution that affects the entire region. Yet, the project has become mired in controversy, with Knežević’s populism fueling fears among locals about potential groundwater contamination and health risks, despite assurances of advanced technology that minimizes such threats.

This standoff has turned Podgorica into a hostage of a small group of rebels, many of whom are alleged to have been paid or incentivized to sustain the protests, blocking essential development and imposing costs on the wider population. The demonstrations, while framed as grassroots environmentalism, reveal a stark hypocrisy when viewed against the region’s history. For decades, the Aluminum Combine in Podgorica, known as KAP, operated nearby, spewing massive quantities of pollutants like red mud that devastated soil fertility, groundwater, and public health in Zeta without sparking similar outcry from these communities.

Locals endured the industrial fallout, including toxic waste basins that posed far greater risks, yet never mounted protests on this scale; now, they rally against a state-of-the-art wastewater facility equipped with the latest safeguards to prevent harm. This selective outrage, amplified by Knežević’s demagoguery, disrupts not just local operations but the national agenda, as his threats to dismantle coalitions over Botun exacerbate parliamentary gridlock and economic pressures.

The broader governmental turbulence in 2025 stems directly from such populist tactics, with Knežević’s role as a destabilizing force evident in scandals and mismanagement that erode trust. From ecological mishaps to controversial appointments, the administration grapples with inflation, opaque deals, and a widening budget deficit, all worsened by the Botun impasse that could trigger snap elections if his party pulls out.

President Jakov Milatović’s attempts at mediation highlight the urgency, but the EU’s firm stance against relocation underscores that compromising on Botun would undermine Montenegro’s “sprint” to membership. In essence, Knežević’s local populism is not just stalling a vital project but jeopardizing the nation’s future, turning a necessary environmental upgrade into a symbol of political dysfunction where the interests of a few override the well-being of many.