Montenegro is a parliamentary republic, but some of the powers belong to the president. He is responsible for foreign policy, his administration is the oversight body of the local parliament (Assembly). The current president of Montenegro is Milo Djukanovic, a well-known politician of recent times.
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About the president of the country
Prior to winning the 2018 election, Djukanovic served as prime minister five times. He is the leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro. However, the organization did not win a majority in the last parliamentary elections. This has led to conflicts between the Montenegrin president and parliamentarians. However, during the years of Milo Djukanovic’s rule, significant economic development and strengthening of foreign policy were achieved.
A brief biography of Djukanovic.
- was born in Niksic on February 15, 1962.
- In 1989, he initiated the beginning of the ” anti-bureaucratic revolution.”
- At his initiative, a referendum was held in 2008 on Montenegro’s accession to the NATO bloc.
- He first became prime minister in 2008.
- In 2016 he became victorious for the Socialist Party.
- In 2016, there was an attempt to assassinate Milo Djukanovic.
- He won the presidential election in Montenegro in 2018.
Despite successes in foreign policy, the country’s development has stalled due to the coronavirus , when there is a decline in the tourism industry. Attempts to financially support local tour operators did not work, most of them went bankrupt. This caused another economic and domestic political crisis in the country. The Montenegrin president is not going to admit defeat.
Good relations with Russia and the West will provide an opportunity to overcome internal difficulties. The main hope is for cooperation between the countries.
Foreign and domestic policy
His party was overthrown, and Milo Djukanovic promised to co-operate with Montenegro’s new government. It didn’t last long. The refusal of Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic to sign a number of bills passed by parliament has dashed any hopes of a peaceful political coexistence of Montenegro’s new government.
Djukanovic’s Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which has been in opposition for the first time in three decades, says the country’s leader is simply exercising his rights under the constitution. But analysts see Djukanovic’s attempt to bolster his party ranks ahead of a decisive congress on January 23rd and consolidate his base ahead of the first election test in Montenegro’s second city, Niksic , in March.
Statements by Montenegrin politicians
“Political obstacle is one of the political tactics that obviously became the main policy of the MRF in the post-election period,” said political scientist Boris Maric , head of the Center for Civil Liberties.
“Djukanovic is primarily acting as president of the so-called patriotic bloc,” he said, trying to support the MRF.
Refusal to sign
Djukanovic with Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapich and Speaker of Parliament Alex Becic at a meeting of the State Security Council. President of Montenegro
The MRF stepped down in December after three decades of uninterrupted rule, replacing the ruling alliance of three political blocs, which have the smallest majority in parliament.
On October 7, about five weeks after the electoral earthquake that ended the MRF, Djukanovic said during an official visit to Germany that Montenegro was entering a period of political coexistence, and vowed to co-operate with the new government.
But with less than a month in government, Montenegrin leaders on January 2nd rejected a number of laws passed by parliament in late 2020, including amendments to a controversial religion law passed by the MRF that sparked months of street protests, including Sunday.
Djukanovic referred to legal issues related to the parliamentary mandate of the ruling coalition MP. However, he refused to offer alternative solutions.
Two days later, Djukanovic refused to sign a review of seven ambassadors close to his party, saying the foreign ministry had not provided him with an explanation.
Then, on January 13, Djukanovic refused to sign the dismissal of Dragutin ‘s army commanders Dakic and Raiko Pesic , accusing Defense Minister Oliver Inyak of violating the rules that military service is a matter for the State Defense and Security Council, which is headed by the president. The deadline for solving the problem has not been specified yet.
Conflict resolution
On January 15, Djukanovic met with Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic , Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovich and Speaker of Parliament Alex Becic .
Under Montenegro’s constitution, the president can send the bill back to parliament for reconsideration, but must sign it if parliament passes it again. If the president refuses again, at least 26 deputies can appeal to the Constitutional Court.
Empty talk or the prerogative of the president
The Montenegrin opposition boycotted a parliamentary session. Photo: Parliament of Montenegro
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Branko Bosniak said that Djukanovic’s promise of cooperation was just a conversation.
“Djukanovic is not resting and will be ready to increase tensions even more to maintain his power.”
MP Nikola Rakocevic denied this, saying that Djukanovic was simply acting in accordance with the constitution.
According to him, cohabitation is one thing, and making illegal decisions is another.
“Cohabitation will operate in accordance with the Constitution, and we are constantly monitoring this,” Rakocevic told BIRN.
Djukanovic is expected to remain at the helm of the MRF after his January congress, but changes are expected in other leadership positions and the party’s program.
However , Maric said the party is fighting to retain power in Niksic .
Ultimately, he said, the battle between the government and the president “has a bad effect on the democratic process in Montenegro”, but Djukanovic is using it to “maintain the political position and strength of the MRF”.
“Of course, Djukanovic’s goal is to remain president of the MRF and mobilize the party for elections in Niksic .”