In its new program, the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) emphasizes the defense of Montenegro's civic character and warns against attempts at "ethnofederalization" planned by its neighbors, while, unlike the current program document, it does not mention the "independent Orthodox Church" of Montenegrin believers.
However, the emphasis is placed on the defense of cultural, historical and sacral heritage, while insisting on the return of property to the Montenegrin state.
"The concept of ethno-federalization of Montenegro, conceived at addresses in the surrounding area that have never accepted the independence of Montenegro, supported by contractors on the domestic ground, with the alienation of cultural, historical and sacral heritage and attempts at identity assimilation of national Montenegrins, aims to abolish civil society. Montenegro has no chance of surviving as a state of people because - the moment it agrees to it, it would legitimize itself as a target of nationalist policies from the neighborhood," the new program, which is still in the form of a draft, states.
The program is expected to be adopted at the DPS Congress, which is scheduled for Sunday. As announced, a new statute will also be adopted and a long-time party leader will be elected honorary president of the party. Milo Djukanovic.
It is stated that restoring dignity to state politics and forming a responsible government led by the Democratic Party of Socialists is a key program goal in the next four-year period.
The draft program states that it will work dedicatedly to restoring the "shaky foundations of multiethnic democracy" and nurturing the achievements of anti-fascism, which, along with multi-confessionalism and multiculturalism, represents the moral vertical of Montenegrin history.
"We will promote the equality of all religious communities, while strengthening the principle of secularism. We will fight for the return of the alienated Montenegrin cultural, historical and sacral heritage. We will be dedicated to promoting the religious rights and freedoms of all citizens, as well as those religious organizations that are denied the right to serve and confess in religious buildings located on the territory of Montenegro," the new program states.
In the Program adopted in 2021, the DPS criticizes the Serbian Orthodox Church for political interference and denial of Montenegrin identity and states that the "manipulation of religious feelings" of a number of citizens directed by the SPC "served as an excuse for an attack on the fundamental values of modern Montenegro."
"A number of citizens of Montenegro, predominantly of Montenegrin nationality, have been denied the right to freedom of religion in the area of expressing their faith through prayer, sermons, customs and rituals. We also perceive the civilization-unacceptable impeding of the realization of this right as a denial of part of the state identity of Montenegro. This negates its multiethnic character and calls into question the need for its existence," it says in the current DPS Program adopted after the party lost power in the August 2020 elections.
The DPS's loss of power was significantly contributed to by the liturgies organized by the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral of the Serbian Orthodox Church since the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion in December 2019 due to its provisions relating to church property, which were later deleted by amendments a year later.
"The right of Montenegrin believers to an independent Orthodox church that will operate in the territory of Montenegro, we in the DPS perceive as an integral part of the corpus of historical rights for whose affirmation we will advocate persistently, tolerantly and thoughtfully, respecting the rules that apply in global Orthodoxy. At the same time, protecting the inviolability of property rights as one of the fundamental principles of the rule of law, we will fight by all legal means for the sacral property, which belonged to the state of Montenegro before its violent abolition in 1918, to be returned to the state of Montenegro," it is written in the old Program.
This part is not included in the draft of the new party program.
The new document focuses on the political consequences of the post-2020 government and emphasizes the need to “restore state dignity.”
"Five years after the political changes that took place on August 30, 2020, although formally closer to the European Union with three closed chapters, Montenegro looks worse than ever in terms of values. It has been shown that not every change is a change for the better," the draft program states.
As it is added, "the same government", repackaged in different packaging, is trying to steal Montenegro's past, but also its future.
"State-irresponsible governments, formed on a wave of clericalization of society and abuse of citizens' religious feelings for political purposes, have subordinated state interests to their personal, but also regional and global influences," it states.
They add that they will continue to strengthen the status of the Montenegrin language as an official and one of the important pillars of the state identity, which, on the day of Montenegro's accession to the EU, will also become one of the official languages of the European Union.
DPS emphasizes that, despite numerous attacks on the political achievements of their rule and efforts to change the direction of the state's foreign policy, a European and Euro-Atlantic Montenegro remains the best guarantor of a brighter future for its citizens.
"We perceive Europe as a circle of civilization to which Montenegro naturally belongs and which represents the ultimate starting point of the process of its overall social emancipation. Therefore, in the long term, there is no more important political task for us than Montenegro's accession to the European Union. Just as when the Democratic Party of Socialists was in power, we have proven our commitment to achieving this historic goal by acting as a state-responsible, progressive and constructive opposition," they state.
They emphasize that in the period preceding the political changes of 2020, they decided independently on the state policy of Montenegro.
"Respecting the opinion of our international partners on important issues for the future of Montenegro, we have primarily taken into account state and national interests. In contrast, over the past four years, not a single strategic decision of importance for the future development of our country has been made in Montenegro," they claim.
In its new program, DPS announces that it will advocate for security sector reform and the creation of conditions for impartial and equal treatment of prosecutors and judges.
The draft brings several concrete economic and social measures, and plans for investments and infrastructure are elaborated in more detail.
The economic reform package envisages a reduction in corporate income tax to nine percent, as well as a reduction in the VAT rate to 7% on hotel accommodation services and the provision of services in the tourism sector, as was the case when the DPS was in power.
"We will work on introducing tax breaks for the reinvestment of profits in the territory of Montenegro, with special emphasis on production activities and investments in underdeveloped areas," the Draft states.
The need for revitalization of tourism and extension of the season through the development of winter centers (Bjelasica, Durmitor) and stronger valorization of Velika Plaza and Ada Bojana was highlighted, as well as accelerated privatization of airports in order to increase air accessibility.
"Key resources are being left to foreign interests"
In its draft program, the DPS states that energy is one of the most valuable sectors of the Montenegrin economy, however, "key resources have been left to foreign interests."
"DPS will be committed to returning the sector to domestic hands and strengthening its role in generating economic growth...We will continue the development of wind farms in Krnovo and Možura, as well as the development of mini-hydropower plants and solar power plants. Montenegro will become a leader in the production of clean energy, thereby reducing dependence on energy imports," the Draft states.
It is also announced that an analysis of environmental standards for projects in the energy sector (including hydropower plants on the Morača, Komarnica and Kruševo rivers) will be conducted.
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