This guide aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the political landscape in Montenegro. Despite the seemingly crowded political scene, with numerous parties expressing pro-European sentiments while also maintaining an anti-NATO and pro-Russian stance, there is a distinct duality that can be observed. It is intriguing to analyze the interplay between political messaging and the underlying ideologies of certain parties, such as Vucic's parties, which present themselves as centrists while displaying religious and nationalistic tendencies. The intention here is to offer a clear overview of the political dynamics, alliances, and conflicts at play.
Unlike the traditional left-right paradigm commonly seen in Western democracies, Montenegro's political spectrum revolves around a central divide. On one side, we have parties aligned with the Church of Serbia and President Vucic of Serbia, while on the other side, there are parties with original Montenegrin roots. The first group includes parties like ZBCG (formerly the Democratic Front (DF)), Democrats, URA, and PES, along with several smaller parties. These parties share affiliations either directly with the Church of Serbia, with Vucic, or with both. While their programs, announcements, and leaders' speeches may present a different image, their true essence lies in their parliamentary voting patterns and governmental actions. These parties consistently prioritize the interests of Serbski Svet, Vucic, and the Church of Serbia, often conflicting with the interests of the Montenegrin state. The leadership of these parties maintains close ties with the Church of Serbia and the Serbian state. Their overarching objective is to align Montenegro with Serbski Svet/Ruski Svet and distance it from NATO and the EU. Their activities, particularly during elections, are well-coordinated and financially supported by Vucic and the Church of Serbia.
PES (Movement Europe Now) is a relatively new political entity that has gained support from both the Church of Serbia and Vucic. The leaders of PES have been introduced to Montenegro Politics through Serbian Church connections and services, with one of them, Spajic, even holding a Serbian Passport (in that time). The recent leadership conflict within PES, which emerged after the election, can be seen as a confrontation between a faction of PES aligned with Vucic and another faction associated with a segment within the Church of Serbia that does not endorse Vucic. Additionally, PES has not only attracted ideologically-driven Serb voters but also a significant number of disenchanted supporters of the DPS (Democratic Party of Socialists), who are pro-European Montenegrins. This dual dynamic could potentially result in a split within PES in the near future. Notably, Jakov Milatovic, the President of Montenegro, leads the pro-Vucic faction, while Milojko Spajic heads the mixed forces that do not align with Vucic. The formation of the new government will provide greater insight into the alignment of these two factions, marking the first visible crack within the Vucic-led Serbian bloc in Montenegro.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, several original Montenegrin parties uphold the principles of Montenegrin independence. These parties genuinely advocate for a civic secular state and are in favor of both EU and NATO membership. The largest party among them is the DPS, which has undergone significant transformation in the past three years. The DPS played a crucial role in Montenegro's path to independence and NATO affiliation. However, accusations of corruption and a prolonged stay in power have somewhat diminished their appeal among voters. Additionally, the SD (Social Democrats) and SDP (Social Democratic Party), both of which have a long tradition of opposing Milosevic's regime and championing EU values, are also part of this group. Minority parties representing Bosniaks, Albanians, and Croats generally align with the pro-European and pro-Montenegrin parties on most occasions.