Inside Montenegro's Government Formation: Consequences of the Vucic Appeasement Policy and its Impact on Montenegro's Statehood
9/01/2023
The ongoing soap opera of "PES creating the government" continues to dominate media headlines, especially as conflicts among PES leaders become increasingly apparent. However, the media frenzy is obscuring the concerning fact that no pro-European Montenegrins have been invited into the government.It's becoming evident that Vucic's Serbian block is actively vying for power in Montenegro, which raises important concerns. NATO ambassadors should be aware that without the participation of pro-European Montenegrin parties, the new government could be vulnerable to Russian and Serbian interests. This situation serves as a reminder of past events, including the role of Abazovic.
Maintaining a balanced and pro-European approach in Montenegro's government is crucial to safeguarding the country's democratic principles and European aspirations. #MontenegroPolitics #ProEuropean
It is evident that since pro-Vucic parties took over the government three years ago, political corruption has reached its peak in Montenegro. As part of Vucic's plan, Montenegro has moved closer to becoming one of the most corrupt countries in Europe, akin to Serbia. President J. Milatovic, in an interview on National Television, seemed to normalize party-based employment as a means to secure votes. However, the most significant corruption often goes unnoticed, involving direct payments from public funds to the Serbian Church. These payments are then used to channel voters in the interest of various political parties, including DF, PES, URA, and the Democrats. This situation highlights the pressing need for transparency and accountability in Montenegro's political landscape to combat such corruption effectively.
8/30/2023
Today, car processions called Auto Litije were held by the Church of Serbia and Vucic in Podgorica and other cities in Montenegro. These processions began around 7:00 PM and were meant to show support for the ex-DF/ZBCG and their claim to be part of the government. During this event, many Russian and Serbian flags were put on display. This suggests that the real goal behind this is for Russia and Serbia to gain control over Montenegro and set up a government that benefits them. It's important for the West to understand the links between the Serbian uprisings (Litije) in 2020, the victory of parties that support Serbia and Russia on August 30, 2020, and the current public showing of Russian and Serbian flags in Montenegro. All of this is aimed at asserting Serbia and Russian right to govern Montenegro.It's notable to observe the reported decrease in turnout among Auto Litije protestors in various cities, which could potentially indicate a diminishing influence of ex-DF/ZBCG and its extension to Vucic. This shift in dynamics could indeed have an impact on the government formation process. The strengthening campaign by Serbian media in Montenegro against Spajic also warrants attention, as it signifies a concerted effort to shape public perception.
The interview of President Milatovic on National TV, where he advocated for the participation of ex-DF/ZBCG in the new government, adds another layer to the situation. His mention that he hasn't had further discussions with Spajic since the official consultation at the President's Office indicates a certain level of divergence or lack of communication between key parties.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08/29/2023
The recent developments surrounding the formation of the 44th government of Montenegro indeed highlight a complex and potentially concerning situation. It appears that there are significant external influences at play, particularly from Serbia, which are raising questions about the country's autonomy and its relationship with NATO. The involvement of Serbian President Vucic in the political affairs of a NATO member country has sparked discussions about the extent of external meddling.The pressure exerted by Serbia, including support for the Democratic Front (DF)/ZBCG and the Church of Serbia's participation, adds a layer of complexity to the political landscape. The use of anti-Muslim, anti-Croatian, anti-Montenegrin, and anti-Albanian messages circulating on social networks raises concerns about the potential for fostering division and unrest within Montenegro.
Additionally, the scheduled car processions (Auto Litije) organized by Vucic and the Church of Serbia demonstrate a concerted effort to influence public sentiment and possibly sway the political direction of Montenegro. It's noteworthy that these actions are aimed at preventing the establishment of a government that could potentially challenge Vucic's influence and control, especially over security services.
The reference to the Serbian and Russian control of security apparatus over the past three years, facilitated by a favorable environment and a perceived "Appeasement Strategy" from the West, raises questions about the level of foreign influence in the country's internal affairs. This has the potential to impact Montenegro's ability to independently determine its government and security policies.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
08/28/2023
Less than 24 hours after PES President Spajic announced a majority to form a government without ZBCG, Vucic swiftly activated his resources, including media and the Church of Serbia, to discredit Spajic. A crucial player in Vucic's tactics is the Vice President of PES and Montenegro's President, Jakov Milatovic, who is seemingly aligned with Vucic's interests both within the party and through media channels. Evidently, a visible clash has emerged between these two politicians, with Jakov seemingly aligned with Vucic's agenda.