Democratic Montenegro

Montenegrin political party

Democratic Montenegro (Serbian and Montenegrin: Demokratska Crna Gora / Демократска Црна Гора), also known as the Democrats (Demokrate / Демократе), is a conservative liberal, centrist, populist and pro-European political party in Montenegro. Democrats currently has nine MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, elected in 2020, from the big tent Peace is Our Nation (MNN) electoral list. Its founder and current leader is Aleksa Bečić, former President of the Parliament.

History

The Democratic Montenegro was formed in 2015 when the faction of Socialist People's Party split and formed a new political party, represented by 2 MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro.[12][13]

The Democrats increased their number of MPs from 2 to 8 in the October 2016 parliamentary election and after the local elections held the same year, the party gained mayoral positions in Budva and Kotor municipalities. At the local elections held in Herceg Novi in May 2017 the party won 9 out of 34 seats, leading the opposition coalition which formed the local government.[14] Since the constitution the new parliament the entire opposition (all 39 MPs out of 81 in total) started a collective boycott of all parliamentary sittings, due to claims of electoral fraud at the 2016 parliamentary elections, Democratic Montenegro MPs remained in a boycott with the same demands until the end of the term.[15]

In March 2018, Democrats decides to support the candidacy of independent candidate Mladen Bojanić to run for president of Montenegro at April 2018 presidential election, as did Democratic Front (DF), Socialist People's Party (SNP), United Reform Action (URA) and United Montenegro (UCG).[16][17] At the election, Bojanić came second, behind Milo Đukanović, with 33.40% of the vote. In the 2018 local elections, Democrats formed an electoral coalition with the United Reform Action in a number of municipalities. After elections Democrats become part of the local government only in Berane, forming an post-election coalition with DF and SNP, remaining opposition in the rest of the municipalities.[18]

In July 2020, Democratic Montenegro decided to enter the big tent Peace is Our Nation (Mir je naša nacija) coalition with Demos, New Left and PUPI, as well some independent candidates, such as liberal politician Vladimir Pavićević, former leader of the Montenegrin,[19] in order to participate at the forthcoming August 2020 parliamentary election.[20] On 23 September, 41 deputies of the three lists of the new majority in parliament (Peace is Our Nation, For the Future of Montenegro and the United Reform Action) elected Democrats leader Bečić as the new President of the Parliament of Montenegro, 4 deputies from minority parties (3 from the Bosniak Party and 1 from Albanian Alternative) also voted for his election.[21]

Electoral performance

Parliamentary elections

Election Party leader Performance Alliance Government
Votes % Seats +/–
2016 Aleksa Bečić 38,327 10.01%
8 / 81
 New — Opposition
2020 51,298 12.53%
9 / 81
 Increase 1 MNN Support 2020–22
Opposition 2022–23
2023 37,730 12.48%
7 / 81
 Decrease 2 HSB Government

Presidential elections

President of Montenegro
Election Candidate 1st round 2nd round Result
Votes % Votes %
2018[a] Mladen Bojanić 111,711 33.40 — Lost Red XN
2023 Aleksa Bečić 37,563 11.10 — Lost Red XN
  1. ^ Supported Mladen Bojanić as independent candidate.

Positions held

Major positions held by the Democratic Montenegro members:

President of the Parliament of Montenegro Years
Aleksa Bečić 2020–2022

References

  1. ^ Ko je novi opozicioni lider Aleksa Bečić?[permanent dead link], FOS Media
  2. ^ Bečić napustio SNP, Dan
  3. ^ Aleksa Bečić napušta SNP: Ne mogu sa Milićem i Jonicom, Vijesti
  4. ^ Aleksa Bečić osniva novu partiju, Vijesti/mondo.me
  5. ^ Wang, Kyle (30 August 2020). "Compass Elections: Montenegro Elections 101". The Caravel. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  6. ^ "What Montenegro's future government means for the Western Balkans". European Council on Foreign Relations. 15 September 2020. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  7. ^ "Montenegro". Center for Strategic & International Studies. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  8. ^ Lika, Idlir (20 August 2020). "Hard times for breaking former communists' power monopoly in Montenegro". www.aa.com.tr. Retrieved 2022-02-16.
  9. ^ Utjesinović, Vladimir (2020-09-02). "Who is the opposition alliance that won Montenegro's election?". Euronews.
  10. ^ Montenegro (2022), Europe Elects. Retrieved 2023-03-04.
  11. ^ "Montenegro". Europe Elects. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  12. ^ "Bečić predstavio "Demokratsku Crnu Goru"". RTCG — Radio Televizija Crne Gore — Nacionalni javni servis.
  13. ^ "Bečić izabran za predsjednika "Demokratske Crne Gore — Demokrata"". portalanalitika.me.
  14. ^ "Demokratama predsjednik opštine, DF-u šef parlamenta - Vijesti.me". www.vijesti.me. Archived from the original on 2017-05-15.
  15. ^ Novi izbori kao uslov opozicije za povratak u Parlament, Radio Slobodna Evropa, 30 November 2016
  16. ^ Bojanić predao potpise za kandidaturu Archived 2018-04-14 at the Wayback Machine, Vijesti
  17. ^ I Demokrate podržale Bojanića, borba.me
  18. ^ ""Zdravo Berane" i Demokrate imaju 426 glasova više od koalicije DPS-BS-SD - Vijesti.me". www.vijesti.me. Archived from the original on 2018-02-06.
  19. ^ U Crnoj Gori formiran "Građanski blok", rts.rs
  20. ^ Formiranje Građanskog bloka, Vijesti
  21. ^ Objavili dokument: Poslanici tri koalicije podržali Krivokapića za mandatara, Vijesti, 23 September 2020
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