In one sentence, the tension over the formation of the government could be defined as follows: "The Coalition for the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) is stubborn, the Americans even more so, and the price is paid by citizens who want to see their country ready for EU membership as soon as possible."
Despite more than clear signals from Washington and Brussels about what Andrija Mandić and Milan Knežević should do in order to remove the reservations that exist towards them, the two did nothing. Moreover, ZBCG continued to make statements and make moves that, to put it euphemistically, are ambivalent regarding Montenegro's membership in NATO, the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and meeting the conditions for EU membership.
On the other hand, the key goal of the new government of Montenegro should be the acceleration of European integration. To be able to do that, a stable government with a majority of at least 49 deputies is needed. This is not possible without ZBCG MPs, because Mandate Milojko Spajić made it clear that he will not form a coalition with DPS and GP URA. Truth be told, Spajić's position could also be classified as "stubbornness", but at this moment it has less weight for the work that needs to be done.
Aside from Spajić's principled stance on DPS, a possible alliance with a party that made only cosmetic changes would be counterproductive for both the Europe Now Movement (PES) and the European integration of Montenegro. Just as it is logical and justified to doubt the intentions of ZBCG and its connections with Belgrade and Moscow, it is also quite understandable to have great reservations about a party that handed the state over to criminal clans that controlled the police, inspectors, customs, prosecutors, judges, ministers , journalists.
For the Americans, the most important thing is Podgorica's relationship with the North Atlantic Alliance and Russia and China, for the EU, the rule of law is key in the context of Podgorica's approach to EU membership. As much as the ZBCG is an unreliable partner for a coherent foreign policy of Montenegro towards NATO, Russia and China, the DPS is a problematic ally in fulfilling the criteria in the field of the rule of law, which are crucial for accelerating European integration. There are indications that the unreformed DPS would use participation in the government to protect the top and key people of the former regime from investigations and processes, and thus would undermine the creation of the rule of law.
Montenegro cannot get closer to joining the EU if it does not have a clearly defined Euro-Atlantic policy, but there will be no progress in the integration process without final judgments for the people who turned Montenegro into a captive state and Balkan Colombia. That is why the votes of ZBCG in the Assembly of Montenegro are needed to create solid foundations of the rule of law in Montenegro until the DPS makes a move away from the leaders who turned Montenegro into a kleptocratic state.
The US policy towards Montenegro is not changing, the envoys for the Western Balkans are changing. Does anyone still remember Hoity Yee or Matthew Palmer, or their predecessors, and their strong statements and "threats"? Just as we forgot them, we will also forget Gabriel Escobar, but Washington's policy towards our region will not change significantly, even if Donald Trump wins the White House elections next year. Knežević and Mandić should know that. Putin may benefit from Trump's return to power, but they will not.
The rigidity of American foreign policy, and therefore of the lower officials who deal with Montenegro, is a direct consequence of the essentially small geostrategic importance that Montenegro has for the USA. From there, the nuanced differences between the EU and the US on certain issues, including the attitude towards the formation of the government. In Washington, they do not distinguish between the former DF as a minority or majority partner in the executive power, unlike in Brussels.
In the past few days, we have witnessed the attempts of remnants of the propaganda machinery of the former regime to distort reality and present reality as it suits the DPS, which is still under the control of the octopus that made Montenegro a captive state.
This was best seen through the attempt to present the clear position of the American envoy Gabriel Escobar regarding the entry of the ZBCG coalition as something new, and to accuse the professional media of spreading alleged propaganda that the former DF can enter the government with American blessing. Of course, with the aim of accrediting DPS as a credible European and American partner.
Let us remind you that "Vijesti" announced on April 30 this year, before the parliamentary elections, conveying information from sources in the State Department that the American administration still does not want to see DF representatives in the new government of Montenegro. In the opinion of the State Department DF (today ZBCG) has not changed enough and has not experienced a catharsis to become acceptable to NATO partners.
A month and a half later, a few days after the parliamentary elections were held, "Vijesti" reported the position of the American administration that the moratorium of the ZBCG on the foreign policy course of Montenegro is not sufficient for the NSD and DNP to enter the government. Long-term contacts in European and American institutions confirmed even then that the leaders of NSD and DNP must take a step further, to show with concrete actions, statements and decisions that their Serbianness is not in collision with the Euro-Atlantic course of Montenegro and European values. That is, it is not enough for them to say that they will not question membership in NATO, the recognition of Kosovo and the foreign policy course of Montenegro, including the attitude towards Russian aggression against Ukraine.
It's not just the DPS factory of distorted information that's working hard these days. Even more, another one financed from (pro)Russian sources in the Balkans and headquartered in Belgrade is in operation. The spread of stories about the threat of Serbs in Montenegro is more or less like a narrative about the discrimination of Montenegrins in post-Depees Montenegro, with the aim of destabilizing the country, which would benefit Moscow, pro-Russian forces in Belgrade and the still active criminal-political octopus.
The pillars of the future ruling coalition, PES and the Democrats, are parties that bring together both Montenegrins and Serbs and are voted for by both Montenegrins and Serbs, and those who speak Montenegrin and those who speak Serbian. Washington and Brussels have shown that they have nothing against Serbs in Montenegro or Montenegrins who speak the Serbian language or Montenegrins who consider themselves to share the same roots with Serbs. Jakov Milatović (President), Milojko Spajić (Mandate), Aleksa Bečić (Candidate for President of the Assembly), Olivera Injac (Mayor of Podgorica) are excellent examples. Just as neither Brussels nor Washington have reacted or put an embargo on the granting of strategic state enterprises to people from the top of the former DF or mayor positions throughout Montenegro.
All this tells us that no one in the West has a problem with the Serbs in Montenegro, but with the precisely defined political positions of the NSD and the DNP in line with pro-Russian propaganda. European Montenegro is a hostage of two stubbornnesses, domestic and foreign, and it is clear to everyone who is Muhammad and who is the bastard in that story. Knežević and Mandić are intelligent people, and the definition of intelligence is quick and optimal adaptation to existing circumstances. It would be enough if they use it and make the turn that is expected of them in order for Montenegro to move forward, provided they want it to move forward.
Of course, in theory it is possible for the DPS to reform and distance itself from its bad legacy, but as things stand, Knežević and Mandić will sooner renounce Belgrade and Moscow than the DPS of their founder.
Bonus video:
