ekem programme
News from Montenegro concerning a disagreement between the two ruling parties at the municipal level in the country’s capital Podgorica may not crack the headlines elsewhere in the region or abroad. But the imbroglio is indicative of a more profound process and reveals some constants of the Montenegrin political system as it heads into its fifth year since the country’s velvet divorce with Serbia.
(Photo of Podgorica's City Hall courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Mazbin)
The dispute involved the refusal of the strongest Montenegrin party, DPS (Demokratska partija socijalista/ Democratic Party of Socialists), to accept amendments to the new municipal charter, or statute, of Podgorica proposed by their smaller partner in the ruling coalition, SDP (Socijal-demokratska partija/ Social Democratic Party). SDP was known for its antiwar stance during the 90s and later its strong support for Montenegrin independence from the state union of Serbia-Montenegro.
The amendments would have required, among other things, that all the contracts concluded by municipal officials should be accessible to the public. DPS defied its smaller partner and, what is most surprising, gained support from part of the opposition, whose votes were eventually enough for the new statute to be adopted without the controversial amendments. Namely, NS (Narodna stranka/ People’s Party) and DSS (Demokratska srpska stranka/ Democratic Serbian Party). These had run in elections as part of a wide coalition under the name “Bolja Podgorica – bolja Crna Gora” (“Better Podgorica – better Montenegro”), in this voting sided with DPS. The whole event not only raised concerns about the future of the ruling coalition; it also demonstrated how shaky the ‘united opposition’ is....more...
(Photo of Podgorica's City Hall courtesy of Wikimedia Commons user Mazbin)
The dispute involved the refusal of the strongest Montenegrin party, DPS (Demokratska partija socijalista/ Democratic Party of Socialists), to accept amendments to the new municipal charter, or statute, of Podgorica proposed by their smaller partner in the ruling coalition, SDP (Socijal-demokratska partija/ Social Democratic Party). SDP was known for its antiwar stance during the 90s and later its strong support for Montenegrin independence from the state union of Serbia-Montenegro.
The amendments would have required, among other things, that all the contracts concluded by municipal officials should be accessible to the public. DPS defied its smaller partner and, what is most surprising, gained support from part of the opposition, whose votes were eventually enough for the new statute to be adopted without the controversial amendments. Namely, NS (Narodna stranka/ People’s Party) and DSS (Demokratska srpska stranka/ Democratic Serbian Party). These had run in elections as part of a wide coalition under the name “Bolja Podgorica – bolja Crna Gora” (“Better Podgorica – better Montenegro”), in this voting sided with DPS. The whole event not only raised concerns about the future of the ruling coalition; it also demonstrated how shaky the ‘united opposition’ is....more...
read more: ekem programme
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