Good morning! Dritan is calling for the government to be brought down. He shows no regard for the photo finish of EU integration. He says we have hit rock bottom. He and Pipun want to lead us, and for us to support them again as we did in 2022 — only to end up, a year later, molding Milojko and Mandic out of clay, just as we once did with Zdravko Krivokapic.
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Dritan Calls Again to Topple Milojko. Shall We, Montenegrins?
I will never forget the enthusiasm surrounding the formation of the minority government. DPS and SDP were ecstatic. Rasko and Ranko became ministers. Dritan couldn’t swallow SD, so they were left out. That night was celebrated until morning, fireworks were set off. The so-called apostolic government was replaced, along with two ministers who are now our president and prime minister. Zdravko was ousted — the one who refused to sign the Fundamental Agreement and whose family Vucic allegedly harassed in Belgrade — only for Dritan to come to power and grant even more to the Serbian Orthodox Church in that same agreement. Dritan, who spent money on lobbying for self-promotion and world travel, whose closest associate was arrested for cigarette smuggling, and during whose mandate a tunnel was dug beneath the most important state institutions.
And now that same Dritan wants to overthrow the government again. He became active at the same time as Milan Knezevic. Dido Kumara is also stirring things up. They are calling for opposition unity and the government’s dismissal. They say — enough is enough.
I know this may sound scandalous, and I surprise myself in saying it — but if I had to choose between Dritan and Andrija Mandic, whom Abazovic once praised as one of the best politicians in the country, I would choose Mandic. Whatever his flaws, he has shown more autonomy toward Vucic than Dritan and his ally Milan.
When people tell me that Jovanovic in Budva is an alternative not under Vucic’s control, I cannot recall him ever saying anything against the Serbian leader or supporting students in Serbia. On the contrary, my intuition suggests he may be closer to certain circles in Belgrade than Mandic is. The mayor of Budva would likely return to the fold of the DNP before risking criticism of Vucic.
This government is what it is, but until elections — scheduled for next year — there is no alternative. They are just around the corner. DPS and the European Alliance should prepare well for post-election negotiations. DPS is stable at around 25% but will likely not exceed that. The European Alliance is certain to retain parliamentary status. The real question is who will make up the remaining 60% to 65% of parliament. What will the balance be between PES and the others? Between Mandic and Knezevic? How much will the Democrats decline, and will we finally say goodbye to URA?
Dritan should not be offered a lifeline from the independence-supporting parties. His only chance to profit politically is if he is allowed to play a supporting role in the campaign of some civic activist close to Vijesti.
Any destabilization strategy now harms the path to the EU. The government contains much incompetence and disorder. The Democrats, with their monopoly over the security sector, are one of the greatest sources of instability. Someone more mature and serious should step in there to correct things.
Montenegro’s interest is a minimum of political and social stability over the next two years — without old or new experiments.
That’s all for today. Have a pleasant rest of the day.
Kind regards,
Ljubomir Filipovic, CdM analyst and columnist
(Columnists’ opinions and views do not necessarily reflect the views of the CdM editorial board)
