The announcements by the president of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Milo Đukanović that he could run for president of the state serve to animate the electorate ahead of the local elections, although the possibility of Đukanović joining the race for the head of state should not be ruled out.
While those familiar with the situation claim that Đukanović practically announces his presidential candidacy in media statements, in the civil sector they believe that this decision will depend on internal party analyses.
"In organized parties, decisions are made on the basis of detailed analyses, following all aspects of the electoral process, as well as geostrategic movements and attitudes of all actors, so that will be Đukanović's decision. At this moment, I doubt that he will decide on that move, it will already be the one that will represent all DPS election campaigns that will follow in the next six months", according to the program director of the Civic Alliance, Boris Raonic.
Although he announced that the DPS will decide on the presidential candidate at the end of November, Đukanović said on several occasions that his candidacy is not ruled out "if the party and the state need it".
Stating that the DPS has more quality candidates who can achieve an important political victory and strengthen the Euro-Atlantic direction of Montenegro, he clarified that he will never be in a dilemma whether to engage if it is necessary to preserve and improve state achievements. Emphasizing that Đukanović's increased political involvement should not be linked only to the presidential candidacy, the executive director of the Politikon network, Jovana Marović, believes that it is natural for the party leader to play an active role in the campaign for local elections.
"Announcements about possible participation in the presidential elections for the sake of the "interests of Montenegro" are populist bait. It is in the interest of the state that Đukanović is not on the public stage," Marović believes.
Nevertheless, Đukanović's party colleagues and coalition partners do not hide that they see him as the future head of state, increasingly emphasizing that he is the best candidate for the presidency.
Thus, DPS political director Tarzan Milošević said that Đukanović will certainly be the president of the country if he accepts the candidacy, while the Minister of Defense Predrag Bošković said that "there is no politician or person who could defeat Đukanović."
Bosniak Party leader Rafet Husović believes that Đukanović should join the election race, if there is no non-party candidate. Recalling the appeals from DPS, Raonic points out that Đukanović's return will be influenced by the current strength of the ruling party. Despite the break from daily politics and the desire to develop a personal business, Raonic believes, the DPS leader is aware that the success of his party and personal security and comfort depend on his involvement.
"DPS is not capable of achieving victory without his support, so all the losses from local, parliamentary to presidential, where the candidate was a different person, were carried on his shoulders. He was chanted, regardless of what the subject of the campaign was," Raonic believes.
DPS could include a woman in the race for the president of the state
Marović believes that the ruling party should nominate a woman in the presidential elections.
Recalling Đukanović's claims that he is tired of performing state functions for several decades, Marović points out that the citizens' "heads are spinning from his rotations, departures and returns to positions".
"As the DPS assures us of a large number of members who can bear the burden of the presidential elections, we hope that a woman will get the opportunity. Since the OSCE recommended greater participation of women in party structures in order to ensure their visibility during election campaigns, I believe that only this was a commendable step forward," she said.
Until now, only some representatives of the opposition proposed that the presidential candidate be a woman, but that proposal was not supported by the others.
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