Duško "comes" to DPS late: Did the former prime minister miss the chance to make a timely departure from his former party?

Leader of the Party of European Progress (SEP) and former Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, had the chance, when establishing his political entity, to distance himself from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), of which he was a high-ranking official, and thus appeal to an undecided electorate, but it is now too late for that.

So a civic activist Stefan Djukic comments on this week's exchange of harsh words between Marković and his former party colleagues, whom he has so far criticized mildly and indiscriminately.

More than a year has passed since Marković left the party in which he spent decades.

"A good question is why is this being done now," Đukić told "Vijesti", answering the question of whether Marković was late with his "scams" at the expense of DPS and missed the opportunity to do it earlier and thus possibly gain greater support from citizens.

The controversy began when the former prime minister stated in an interview with "Pobjeda", published on Monday, that the former head of government Dritan Abazovic (Civil Movement URA) signed the Basic Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) “because it was made possible by the DPS, which supported its minority government”.

Marković formally left DPS in June 2024 and founded SEP. At the presentation of his party, he said that he had not parted ways with DPS, but rather that he had left “with strong memories” of 30 years of membership in that party. He added that he and the former long-time leader of DPS (now honorary president) Milo Đukanović collaborated professionally at a high level for decades.

"We shared both personal and family relationships... We haven't seen each other for a while, but we look at what Montenegro needs differently," Marković said.

According to Đukić, looking purely tactically, he had the chance, when founding SEP, to deviate from DPS and thus appeal to an undecided electorate, to some voters who would not "round up" DPS.

"He didn't do it then, and his party 'fled around' at the first moment, when as a new phenomenon it had the greatest chance of making inroads into the electorate," the source explained.

Đukić states that it is possible that Marković was afraid of direct confrontation and what could follow as a response from the DPS, and therefore did not resort to it, and that now, simply, he does not see any other way to achieve some more notable success, so he is trying to portray himself as a moderate politician, someone who appeals to several different sides.

"I fear that it is now too late for such a gambit, and that his party can hardly expect growth," said Đukić.

Marković's SEP participated in the local elections in Podgorica (September 2024) and Nikšić (April 2024). It won two mandates in the capital, while in the town under Trebjes it did not pass the threshold.

Marković did not want to answer the question from "Vijesti" whether he thought he was wrong for not expressing criticism of DPS earlier, stating that he had said everything he had.

“Political mistakes” and “brainwashing”

On Monday, the DPS MP and spokesperson was the first to react to the criticism of a former colleague - that DPS enabled Abazović to sign the Basic Agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church in the summer of 2022. Sonja Popovic, which stated that Marković had misled the public.

"The most common lie is that DPS, of which he was a member at the time, in any way provided support or enabled Abazović to sign the act of high treason against Montenegro, which alienated the sacred treasures of our state," she stated.

Popović recalled that immediately after signing the Basic Agreement, the DPS withdrew its support for Abazović's government, and on the same day submitted an initiative to the Parliament for a vote of no confidence in it, which happened shortly thereafter.

Leader of DPS Danijel Zivkovic, stated on Tuesday that Marković is "cleansing his conscience" because of his former membership in that party.

On Wednesday, Marković said on TV Vijesti's "Colors of Morning" that Abazović had been openly preparing the ground for the signing of the Basic Agreement for three months, and that DPS and the former prime minister's other coalition partners at the time did not react, but rather waited for him (Abazović) to do so.

"The political mistake and poor judgment are obvious. DPS is the strongest party in that constellation and without their support there would be no minority government. Therefore, it is fair to admit that they made a mistake," he pointed out.

Commenting on Živković's statement about "conscience washing", Marković stated that he was never just a member, but one of the founders and creators of DPS.

"I created DPS and I am proud of the results - from the civil peace of the nineties, through the restoration of independence, to NATO membership. But I am a free man and I think for myself. Unfortunately, Mr. Živković and part of the current leadership have shown that they have no ability to respect either people or their merits. It is no longer a question of manners, but of character," the head of the SEP assessed.

He added that he was inclined to withdraw four controversial articles of the Law on Freedom of Religion, at the proposal of the Serbian Orthodox Church. The parliament adopted the law in December 2019, which led to months of protest marches by the Church, which significantly influenced the removal of the DPS government in the August 2020 elections. The law was amended at the end of December 2020, shortly after the formation of the government headed by him. Zdravko Krivokapic.

"It is possible that Marković was afraid of direct confrontation and what could follow as a response from the DPS, and that is why he did not resort to it, and that now, simply, he does not see any other way to achieve some more notable success, and is trying to portray himself as a moderate politician, someone who appeals to several different sides," said Đukić.

The adopted amendments deleted articles from the previous version of the Law that stipulated that “all religious objects that represent cultural heritage and were the property of the state of Montenegro before the loss of its independence in 1918 and which later did not pass into the ownership of a religious community in an appropriate legal manner, shall be recognized as state property.” The provision that a religious community must be registered, which was also one of the points opposed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, was also abolished.

Ahead of the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion in late 2019, there was speculation that Marković was against it, and that he was close to reaching an agreement with the late Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral. Amphilochius regarding this regulation. However, Marković's political opponents from the pro-Serbian part of the political scene strongly object to his statement in August 2020 - that after the elections, it would no longer be tolerated for SPC priests to "curse our fathers, our grandfathers, ourselves and our children".

Held high positions on behalf of DPS

Until 2021, Marković was the deputy president of the DPS, on whose behalf he held high state functions.

At the DPS congress in January 2021, new party leadership was elected, with Marković no longer a member. There was speculation in political circles that Đukanović had suggested to his deputy that they step down in order to make way for younger staff, and that Marković himself had even brought this up at one of the party body sessions. However, Đukanović remained the party leader until the direct elections in February 2024, when he was replaced by Živković.

Marković's political opponents, as well as part of the non-governmental sector, call him the "black box" of the DPS regime and link him to many scandals. Among other things, with cigarette smuggling and the so-called Mojkovac criminal clan, which he has repeatedly denied, claiming that these accusations are "the most ordinary" nonsense. He is also criticized for not wanting to talk about unsolved murders from the time he was head of the State Security Service. Due to the "Moldavka S. Č" scandal, the Social Democratic Party refused to support his appointment as Minister of Police in 2003.

In addition to being Prime Minister, he also served as Minister of Justice, Deputy Prime Minister for the Political System, Internal and Foreign Policy, Director of the National Security Agency (ANB)...