Đukanović hardly noticed how Krivokapić's mockery of his party and thus the joint coalition in recent months coincides with Krivokapić's stay in America. As soon as Ranko returns from Uncle Sam, there is a major "betrayal" of the DPS by the SDP.
It was the same a few days ago when Krivokapić voted with the opposition for the electoral law and then, when it did not pass, he attacked the government. That is Đukanović. It is not known why Milić was restrained and then angry because of that, but that is almost unimportant. We need to analyze the prime minister.
Since last summer, he has been scratching at the doors of official Washington, but they never open. He expected that, like a couple of years before, during the UN General Assembly, he would jump from New York to the American capital in order to take a picture with Vice President Biden and Secretary Kerry. None of that. In December, the Đukanović government announced that Biden was "waiting for the Boss" in January.
That deadline also passed. The American side only announced that Djukanovic is the one asking for a meeting. But nothing is scheduled yet. The Vice President of the USA can never find a free appointment. March is now mentioned. It would be a good time for Biden to take pity and spare an hour for the dictator from the hilly Balkans.
The head of parliament is every now and then across the ocean. He spends weeks there. Although it is not known what kind of messages and recommendations Krivokapić is returning from America, the prime minister and his comrades are not sleeping peacefully. Đukanović knows best the power of official Washington. In the last decade and a half, the government grew stronger thanks to all kinds of support from the USA. For a long time, it was considered the main American partner in the Balkans. Đukanović justified such a status by being cooperative on all regional issues important to America. From supporting the Hague Tribunal, through developing regional cooperation, to recognizing Kosovo and sending troops to Afghanistan. In return, he could consolidate the dictatorship at home and persecute dissenters.
Times and priorities of the great powers are changing. The situation in the neglected Đukanović house was also on the agenda. Last year's State Department report on the state of human rights and media freedom in the world was very critical of the Montenegrin reality. The pronounced problem with corruption, widespread nepotism was pointed out, the monitoring and eavesdropping of opposition representatives and even some diplomatic representatives was pointed out, while the independent media are under constant pressure and attacks. We can expect a new SD report in a month, it will be interesting.
Washington and Brussels know that instead of the law, "gambling" rules here, a picturesque term invented by the recent Austrian ambassador in Podgorica, Martin Pamer. "Gambling" is a metaphor for a specific network of connections between members of the government, institutions, secret police, tycoons and the mafia that it controls the entire society, mocks European values and procedures, and does everything to get what it wants. It doesn't matter - jobs or elections.
Although the European Commission has introduced the strictest conditions for full membership to Montenegro so far, almost no one, neither in the country nor outside it, believes that essential steps forward are possible while Đukanović is in the saddle. But he looks more and more like a drunken cowboy wandering around the bazaar than the former, nimble and elusive gringo who tramples everything in front of him.
After the unsuccessful European experiment with Minister Lukšić as an alternative to Đukanović, Washington is now, it seems, playing more for a coalition partner than for some structure from the ranks of the ruling party. No matter how close they were in previous years, the SDP is still a separate party and it is dominantly controlled by Krivokapić. He suddenly becomes interesting to America. A few months ago, thanks to the support of the USA, Krivokapić was suddenly elected president of the OSCE PS. It is hard to remember when a representative of such a small country reached such a high international position. After that, Krivokapić dealt more political blows to Đukanović.
Đukanović is still on hold. It wasn't a problem for him before. He met with Biden and Hillary Clinton whenever he wanted.
The decade and a half long partnership is clearly entering a new phase that will not be pleasant for Đukanović. But it can be beneficial for Montenegrin society.
Monitor
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