Who’s Going to Tell Montenegrin Leader to Put Away the Razor?

 

 

 

It has been exciting, many say - historic several weeks in Montenegro, following the tense elections campaign in this tiny Adriatic country and even more so, after official result came in, indicating that coalition of opposition parties has won the majority of the seats in the future Parliament. 

After more than thirty years of undisputed rule of country incumbent President, Milo Djukanovic’ and his Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Montenegro is set for a political change, the first one after country gained independence in 2006, and even further back in history since bloody breakup of Yugoslavia in 1990ties. 

But it is still unclear if the ruling party and its undisputed leader, will be persuaded to hand over the power in democratic fashion.  

Despite numerous and documented examples of the irregularities in the election process, mainly on account of misuse of institutional power by the ruling DPS, which have after three decades in power became business as usual, and a clear majority for opposition, confirmed by the Independent election observers, DPS leader is still reluctant to think of retirement. 

Instead, his party is calling its supporters to a protest meeting in the Capital Podgorica, scheduled for 6th of September, only seven days after elections polls closed, and before mandate for the new Prime Minister is given to the winner of the elections. 

Simultaneously, acts of vandalism of unknown perpetrators towards Muslim religious sights have been reported in the town of Pljevlja in the northern, ethnically mixed part of the country. 

And although it was instantly denounced by the opposition leaders, who visited Pljevlja on the next day after the incident in order to denounce the violence, in the state controlled media incident was used to steer the feeling of uncertainty, blaming the opposition bloc for the religious intolerance. Opposition, in their own account, read Djukanovic’s security forces handwriting in the incident.

And it has been exactly the argument of religious intolerance that has helped Milo Djukanovic nicknamed The Razor for his talent in swift, sometimes brutal decision making, to gain support in the West, and stay in power for more than three decades, while also keeping the Montenegrin society locked in the power grip of his party infrastructure that became to identify itself with the state itself. While Djukanovic was in 2015 named the Man of the Year by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), with numerous accusations of organized crime and cronyism, he remained the "only game in town" for EU and US decision makers. This is to remain so, for the decades to come even though journalists from both Montenegro and neighbouring countries who investigated Djukanovic business sometimes ended up as victims of assassinations, and he remained loyal to his old recipe that never has failed him. Until now, that is.

Truth be told, Djukanovic is not your one-dimensional leader, or dictator if you will. His breakup with Milosevic back in 1997, provided safe heaven and support to Serbian opposition that finally succeeded in overthrowing Belgrade regime, three years later. 

In the same time, Djukanovic declined demand of International Hague Tribunal persecution to testify against his former political mentor and even provided financial support to Milosevic’s legal defense team. In personal conversations, Djukanovic even stated admiration to Milosevic political talent, with only one remark: "He did not know when to stop.” 

Montenegrin strongman also created relatively multi-ethnic civil society in which all Montenegrin nations could prosper, or all but one, that is. 

Maybe due to his own political baggage, of fiery initial support for the Milosevic led wars in the 1990ties, Djukanovic made sure that Serbian community in Montenegro was ousted from virtually all state institutions and decision making processes. It all culminated with his recent decision to create new Montenegrin church that could replace Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC) in Montenegro, which by many observers led to current election result. But resistance of SOC was not the only reason why “the impossible” happened in Montenegro - for Djukanovic to lose the elections he himself organized.        

This is because latest election process delivered an even bigger surprise than its formal result. It gave national attention to two young opposition leaders, born in the time of dissolution of Socialist republic of Yugoslavia: 

Aleksa Becic president of center-left coalition Peace is our Nation and Dritan Abazovic, president of liberal United Reform Action (URA) representing the new generation of politicians in Montenegro, destined to change nationalistic narrative that has for decades dominated the political agenda in the Balkans. 

Their main agenda is fight against corruption and organized crime, another undesirable achievement of Djukanovic regime. And even more important is their idea to do it together, being Montenegrins, Albanians, Bosnians or Serbs, who consist at least one third of the Country’s population.  

By introducing the future government of experts two young leaders have both, in their own authentic way demonstrated an new understanding of politics in which nation and party membership are not the only credential of political actors. This new kind of politics, is not associated with corruption and privilege of the ruling elite. They both represent a breath of fresh air into society that became hijacked by one political party and one man leading it many years ago.

This is why EU and Brussels decision makers must at least acknowledge this organic progress of the Montenegrin society if not actively support it. It well deserves a spotlight, but also stronger amount of trust. And last but not least, someone should tell Montenegrin longtime leader it is time to put away the Razor. To have more trust in his own countryman, especially those almost twice younger than he is now, and respect their vision of the country they all love, in which all the nations have equal rights. To put an end to stigma over one whole community, due to the tragedy of Yugoslav wars, in which he took active part, not his current political opponents. It is also the only way for him to stay true to the progressive vision he once propagated when he came to power 32 years ago, and escape the destiny of his political mentor.

In simple words, it is important to know when to stop.