The strong rhetoric of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) at the beginning of the election campaign in Nikšić shows that the upcoming vote in that municipality will be another testing ground for "big" issues and that the strongest opposition party does not hesitate to regain positions with a discourse whose use it resented by political opponents and those who supported those actors.
This was assessed by the interlocutors of ''Vijesti'', commenting on the messages of the head of the DPS. Danijela Živković from the first pre-election rally of that party in the town near Trebjes - that "the fight for Nikšić and the fight for Montenegro" will follow, as well as a "total offensive".
A similar narrative was used during the previous elections in Nikšić, held in 2021, by Serbian media close to part of the Nikšić and state authorities, speaking of the “battle for Nikšić.” The DPS strongly criticized this at the time, accusing the parties of the former Democratic Front (DF) of being financed from Serbia.
"The elections, dubbed the 'battle for Nikšić' in the neighboring country, confirmed our belief that the citizens of Nikšić look with contempt at the puppet role of local politicians," reads one of the DPS statements from the time.
The former long-time leader of the DPS and the newly elected honorary president of the party have also joined the campaign for the elections scheduled for April 13th. Milo Đukanović, who said at a campaign rally that he "sincerely believes that they are at the beginning of another victorious campaign."
Political commentator and former Minister of Internal Affairs Sergej Sekulovic, assessed that the Nikšić elections are important, but that they do not have a "fatal character", although, he says, it is becoming increasingly obvious "that this will be another local campaign that will be a training ground for 'big' topics".
"'The 'Battle for Montenegro', the constitutional status of language, citizenship, or the dominance of identity politics - are clearly trying to position themselves as dominant narratives. What the response of other actors in the campaign will be remains to be seen," Sekulović told "Vijesti".
Director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) Nevenka Vuksanović, assessed that the campaign in Nikšić shows that DPS is trying to regain its positions through strong rhetorical mobilization, which, according to her, places the upcoming elections in a "broader political and state-building context."
"The fact that they are using terminology that they disputed four years ago is not only an indicator of a serious intention to win the elections, but also of the extremely poor relationship they have with the parliamentary majority at the local and state levels," she told "Vijesti".
When asked by "Vijesti" why they are now using the rhetoric they criticized four years ago, the DPS responded that they criticized the fact that the "battle for Nikšić" was being waged by the highest state addresses from the neighboring country and on national television stations in Serbia, "which resulted in brutal interference in the internal affairs of Montenegro."
"On the other hand, the quoted statement (by Danijel Živković) symbolizes the upcoming campaign and the victory with which we want to free Nikšić from such influence and return the citizens of Nikšić to the center of decision-making," said DPS spokesperson Miloš Nikolić.
The party posted a red poster with a raised fist on social media, which reads: "This is the fight for Nikšić! This is the fight for Montenegro! #Offensive."
AND STILL DEPENDS ON MILO'S CAPITAL
Sergej Sekulović states that local elections need to be increasingly “local,” and that there needs to be an “integralist approach to conducting politics” at the state level. He believes that “polarizing messages” do exactly the opposite.
"The question is how capable political parties are of making this leap," he added.
Commenting on Đukanović's participation in the campaign, the interviewee said that it is clear that the title of honorary president of the DPS is not just of a protocol nature, but that his influence in the party remains strong.
Nevenka Vuksanović says that Đukanović's inclusion signals that DPS still depends on his political capital, especially in Nikšić, his hometown.
"Although he formally handed over the leadership, his presence makes it questionable how much the party has actually made a substantial transition to new leadership. And therein lies the biggest challenge for DPS - how to present a new policy that is not just a return to the old," the interviewee stated. DPS did not respond to "Vijesti's" question about what the inclusion of Đukanović in the campaign means.
The former head of state and prime minister for several terms, he led the DPS for 25 years, and in mid-February he was elected honorary president of the DPS, "as a sign of gratitude for his participation in the achievements of the previous period."
He said at a rally in Nikšić that "every irresponsible individual can be allowed to behave as they wish in any democratic society", but that it is unacceptable "to have at the head of Nikšić someone who shows the middle finger to state symbols and someone who wants to deal with the anti-fascist history of our city - the brightest moment of Montenegrin freedom".
"Therefore, dear friends, if we have sacrificed four years of our offspring, it is up to us not to allow another four to be taken away from them," said Đukanović.
At the same rally, Živković announced that "state dignity" was defended in Nikšić in 2021 "with a result above 40 percent", but that he believes that "this time the victory will be even more convincing".
In those elections, the DPS led the coalition "European Team for Nikšić", which won 18 council seats, which was not enough for them to form a government, so after 16 years they went into opposition. The new government was formed by the parties of the former DF, the Democrats and the Civic Movement URA.
For now, it is certain that the coalition "For the Future of Nikšić" (DF), DPS, Europe Now Movement (PES), European Union, GP URA, European Progress Party and the "Preokret" Movement will participate in the elections scheduled for April 13. The civic list "Probudimo Nikšić", led by the president of the Župa Local Community, has also announced its participation in the elections. Dragoljub Radulović and "Work for my city", headed by a doctor Borislav Djurišić.
The deadline for submitting electoral lists is March 18th.
According to data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, there were 22 voters on the voter list for the local elections on January 57.717, 251 more than in the parliamentary elections in June 2023. However, 1.116 fewer voters have the right to vote in the upcoming local elections compared to the 2021 elections, when there were 58.833.
Muratović: Elections that have a national and historical character
The leader of the DPS list in the elections in Nikšić, Boris Muratović, said at a pre-election rally that the upcoming vote has a "national and historical character."
"Niksic is choosing between anti-fascism, culture, development and education on the one hand, and the retrograde policies led by (Niksic leader) Marko Kovačević on the other. And that is why the only vote for DPS is a vote for an anti-fascist and European Nikšić, and that is why we are going on the offensive: an offensive of intellect, an offensive of anti-fascism, an offensive of development. It is time to bring back the old spirit of Nikšić," said Muratović.
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