Has the West lost Montenegro?

Until recently, the small Western Balkan country, Montenegro , seemed to be clearly following the pro-European path.

In April 2023, the politician for three decades in the highest leadership positions of the country, the autocrat Millo Gjykanovic lost the elections as president.

His Socialist Party (DPS), successor to the former communist organization, had to sit on the opposition bench as early as the summer of 2020.

Since that time, although politically not everything went well, the integration of Montenegro in the EU, the transatlantic orientation and the policy of reforms against corruption and organized crime were indisputable.

But from now on this may change. Because since last week, Montenegro has a new government, which independent observers in the country consider to be a terrible cabinet.

"This government dangerously divides society and calls into question the path and the European character of the country" , writes publicist and director of Vijesti newspaper, Zeljko Ivanovic.

Montenegrin Prime Minister in office since autumn 2023 Milojko Spajic from the Europe Now alliance (PES) last week presented the restructured government cabinet. The governing coalition consists of parties with pro-Serbian and pro-Russian leaders, among them Andrija Mandiç and Milan Knezeviç, respectively the chairman of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and the People's Democratic Party of Montenegro (DNP). Since October 2023, Mandi? is also the president of the Parliament of Montenegro.

Mandic and Knezevic are declared supporters of Putin, they indirectly express themselves against the independence of Montenegro from Serbia announced in 2006 and reject the integration into the EU as well as the country's membership in NATO since 2017. They call for a close connection between Montenegro and Serbia, are against the independence of Kosovo and deny the genocide of Srebrenica. They and their parties thus question the reason for the state and the identity of Montenegro.

A side aspect of the new government is that the number of ministers and ministers has increased to a record 32 members - in a country of about 600,000 inhabitants.

The participation of politicians such as Mandic and Knezevic in the governing coalition was part of a deal between Spajic and pro-Serb parties, after his pro-European party won a narrow majority after elections a year ago and was supported by 13 MPs from the bloc of pro-Serb parties. . In exchange, these parties had to be rewarded with ministerial posts, which was done now. Although NSD and DNP do not hold key positions in the government, and Mandi? and Knezevic do not have their own ministerial posts, whether cooperation with them brings "more stability" to the Spaji? government, as he promises, is uncertain.

"Directed by Moscow and Belgrade"

Reactions at home and abroad were immediate. Montenegrin President Jakov Milatovic, who a few months ago broke away from Spajic and his PES party due to a dispute over the national energy concern, in his comments regarding the reproduced government of Montenegro, emphasized that "Montenegro is a victim of primitive political action and irresponsibility, which Prime Minister Milojko Spajic and the country's leadership constantly demonstrate".

Andrija Nikoli?, the chairman of the democratic party of socialists, expressed himself similarly. He is even more direct in his criticism in contrast to Milatovi?, who is considered close to Serbia. "We are dealing with a government that is run by Moscow and Belgrade", he said for the Montenegrin evening.

Even the US government, which has clearly expressed its opposition to the participation of pro-Serbian parties, reacted through the embassy: "We are concerned about the involvement of parties and leaders in the Montenegrin government who do not condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, reject sanctions and whose stance is in direct contradiction with the principle of good neighborly relations", says a communication from the US Embassy in Podgorica.

Unwanted in Croatia

The neighboring country, Croatia, reacted harshly: A day after the government restructuring, the Croatian Foreign Ministry declared the three high-level politicians persona non grata. In addition to Mandi? and Knezevic, this decision also affects Deputy Prime Minister Aleksa Becic, a centrist politician whose political positions often fluctuate.

All three are unwelcome in Croatia due to "systematic measures to disrupt good neighborly relations" and "continuous misuse of the Republic of Croatia for domestic political purposes," Croatia's statement said.

The reason for this step by Croatia is the "Resolution for Jasenovac", which was approved by the parliament in Podgorica at the end of June. Jasenovac in World War II was a Croatian concentration camp, where Serbs, Jews and Roma were killed. Even today, Jasenovac is a symbol of Serbo-Croat enmity. The resolution was adopted as a kind of response to the UN resolution on the genocide in Srebrenica. As Mali appealed to the UN for the Srebrenica resolution, pro-Serb forces in Montenegro, according to observers in Croatia, adopted Jasenovac's resolution as a "retaliation".

As for the tense Montenegrin-Croatian relations, according to the Croatian political scientist Zarko Puhovski, the problem of the Jasenovac resolution is "inflated", in the first place it is problematic, that so far no Croatian government has acknowledged the atrocities in Jasenovac nor historical responsibility.

Thus, adds Puhovski, referring to Montenegro: Croatia with its neighbor actually has other problems, such as undefined boundary or open claims related to real estate.