By Zoran Darmanović
Journalist of Pobjeda
Regular parliamentary elections in Montenegro are due in one year and four months. Governing coalition parties, led by DPS, have realized that there’s no time to waste and they’ve started renewing party infrastructure and rejuvenating staff in the party authorities. Montenegrin opposition, or at least, the majority of opposition parties, has stalled. Trapped in the boycott of the parliament, they have constantly been missing the chances of shaking the “eternal power”, writes Pobjeda.
For DPS, the campaign has already started. For years, the governing party has been cultivating the myth of their infallibility and invincibility.
However, some important DPS officials and former mayors among them were convicted of being involved of some wicked affairs. In addition, they lost power in local elections in Berane, Budva, Kotor, Rožaje and Plav. These events have turned the red alarm on.
In presidential elections in May 2018, DPS employed new strategy. They chose Dr Ivan Vuković, until then not very publicly exposed politician, as the leader of the electoral list. That decision has ensured their coalition convincing victory and absolute power.
At the beginning of April, main DPS board has called elections in municipal organizations and the Capital Board. DPS leader, Mr Milo Đukanović, then said that “people who are capable and ready to face the challenges of modern times” should be elected.
DPS is assertive when it comes to their claims that they are the guarantee of stability and statehood, and fulfillment of external policy priorities.
Political analyst, Mr Ranko Đonović, maintains that those who equalize the policy od DPS now and 30 years ago are so wrong. In doing so, they are only inflicting damage to themselves.
“I’m not saying that governing coalition couldn’t be better and more successful. However, I’m aware that the best policy in any country is the one which is possible. With us, being as we are, it’s impossible”, says Mr Đonović.
He is sure that the governing coalition is developing the strategy for the incoming parliamentary elections.
“I hope that their internal party interests won’t be stronger than the interests of Montenegro”, says Mr Đonović.
Party-political cooperation within the governing coalition is correct and the results of such cooperation are visible in all areas.
In the past two years, Montenegrin opposition has been trying to reach an agreement on the joint strategy, wasting time on boycotting the parliament, disputing and missing the chances of become homogeneous.
And there was a plenty of chances. The most appropriate one came their way when Duško Knećević launched “The Envelope” affair with releasing the video recording clearly showing former Mayor of Podgorica, Mr Slavoljub Stijepović, taking the envelope which allegedly had €97.500 in it.
Then the civil protests began and the“Resist” movement was set up. All opposition members signed the “Agreement on Future” and obliged not to come back to the parliament. They requested formation of technical government and wanted president of the country, parliament, Government, Supreme Court …to resign. They seemed so united in their activities. And, then, they just crumbled. DF members returned to Parliament, just like SDP, Demos and United Montenegro members did. That’s how they wasted a great amount on energy.
Opposition stratification is continuing with the creation of new political alliances.
Meanwhile, SDP ousted opposition government in Kotor, while Democrtas are constantly accusing the mayor of Budva, Mr Marko Carević, of being DPS collaborator.
“Montenegrin opposition is a chaos and a disaster. They fail to agree on the organization of a simple rally. The problem arises the moment opposition starts opposing the country itself. That’s what opposition in Montenegro is doing. Montenegro would be better if there weren’t for such opposition, and this isn’t a joke”,says Mr Đonović.
As long as countries in the region have opposition parties which suffer from national and chauvinistic diseases, Montenegro will be infected.
It remains unclear whether the opposition is going stand for elections.
