Current policy

Montenegro is a country located in the region of Southern Europe. See abbreviation for Montenegro. Montenegro is then governed before the independence of the socialist party DPS, which formed a government with various small parties. DPS is dominated by Milo Ðukanović who has been head of government for several times. After the 2016 parliamentary elections, Ðukanović relinquished the Prime Minister’s post to his trusted Duško Marković, but he ran for president two years later and won in the first round. Both Ðukanović and Marković are pursuing a Western-friendly policy, which since its inclusion in NATO in 2017, has EU membership as its primary objective.

To be able to form a government after the October 2016 parliamentary elections, Duško Marković must bring the small left-wing Social Democrats (SD) and three small parties representing the Bosnian, Albanian and Croatian minorities. By contrast, the largest ethnic minority group, the Serbs, is in opposition. The members of the opposition parties boycotted the new parliament from the beginning, as they felt that voting fraud had taken place. The election was also marred by rumors of strong Russian support for the opposition parties, which oppose Ðukanović’s Western-friendly policy and, above all, the forthcoming NATO membership.

• Countryaah: Country facts and history of Montenegro, including state flag, location map, demographics, GDP data, currency code, and business statistics.

The election was also disturbed by what was described as an averted terrorist attack. A group led by a former head of the Serbian Special Forces, with Russian support, tried to take over Parliament and install “an appropriate party”. The group should also have intended to arrest (and even kill) the then Prime Minister Milo Ðukanović. However, the plan was revealed and around 20 people were arrested the day before the election. The opposition claims that it was all staged by the government to discredit the opponents and Russia has denied all allegations of involvement. In May 2019, 13 people were convicted of the coup attempt, including two Montenegrin opposition leaders and two Russian intelligence officers (see Calendar).

Duško Marković and his government have a number of problems to deal with. The events surrounding the parliamentary elections indicate increased political uncertainty in the country, but they really only reflect contradictions that have existed ever since the referendum on independence in 2006, when a large minority wanted to continue “cohabitation” with Serbia (see Modern history). To the political turmoil comes the economic. Admittedly, the economy has been relatively good since the mid-2010s. However, the differences within the country are large, where those living along the coast have been able to benefit from the growing tourism while the inland residents have not received the same part of the development.

Major problems also continue to be widespread corruption and organized crime. The World Heritage City of Kotor has been hit by a series of armed clashes between rival drug gangs, and there is concern that tourists will be scared away. More recently, a large number of gang murders, car bombs and wildfires have occurred in the capital Podgorica. The wave of violence has also got security officials who previously wanted to tone down the problem of expressing concern over the consequences of the settlements in the underworld. The violence became a dominant theme for the April 2018 presidential election, giving the opposition ammunition against the ruling party’s candidate, Milo Ðukanović. However, that was not enough to stop Ðukanović, the country’s dominant political force.

Ðukanović first announced a month before the presidential election that he intended to stand, although the message hardly aroused surprise. He already won the first round of elections. Ðukanović has always remained on the scene as party chairman in DPS and has repeatedly returned to power after self-withdrawal. With Ðukanović’s victory, political weight is expected to be moved to the presidential post.

Follow the ongoing development of the Calendar.

FACTS – POLITICS

Official name

Crna Gora / Montenegro

GOVERNMENT

republic

Head of State

President Milo Ðukanović (2018–)

Head of government

Prime Minister Duško Marković (2016–)

Most important parties with mandates in the last election

Democratic Socialist Party (DPS) + Montenegro’s Liberal Party (LPCG) 36, Democratic Front (DF) 18, Key Coalition 9, Democratic Montenegro 8, Bosniak Party (BS) / Forca / Croatian Initiative (HGI) 4, Montenegro Social Democratic Party (SPD) 4, Montenegro Social Democrats (SD) 2 (2016)

Main parties with mandates in the second most recent elections

Coalition for a European Montenegro 39, Democratic Front 20, Socialist People’s Party 9, Positive Montenegro 7, Bosniak Party 3, Croatian Citizens’ Initiative 1, New Democratic Force 1, Albanian Coalition 1 (2012)

Turnout

73% in the 2016 parliamentary elections, 64% in the 2018 presidential elections

Upcoming elections

parliamentary elections 2020, presidential elections 2023

2006

December

Collaboration with NATO

Montenegro becomes a member of NATO’s Partnership for Peace (PFF) cooperation program with Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

October

New prime minister takes office

Milo Đukanović resigns and succeeds a month later as Prime Minister by party comrade Željko Šturanović, formally to devote himself to his business. However, he remains as party leader for DPS.

September

DPS wins the election

The government coalition under DPS leader Milo Đukanović gets absolute majority with 41 out of 81 seats in the first parliamentary elections following the declaration of independence.

August

The military duty is abolished

The general military duty is abolished. A smaller, professional army should instead be built up.

June

Montenegro becomes a UN member

Montenegro becomes the UN’s 192nd member. Serbia, with which Montenegro entered into a union before independence, retains Yugoslavia’s place in the World Organization.

Montenegro proclaims independence

June 3

Montenegro becomes a sovereign state. This is done after a referendum on May 21, where a majority voted for Montenegro to leave the Union of Serbia and Montenegro and become independent. Jasidan received 55.5 percent while 44.5 percent voted for continued union with Serbia. Jasidan’s victory was scarce, as it was decided in advance that 55 percent support was required for independence to become a fact. The turnout is 86.5 percent.