Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
Encyclopedia
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (Montenegrin
: Demokratska Partija Socijalista Crne Gore, Демократска Партија Социјалиста Црне Горе) is the ruling social-democratic political party
in Montenegro
.
It is the successor of the Yugoslav Communist League
's Montenegrin branch
. It was renamed in 1991. The DPS has governed Montenegro since 1991, though it became factionalized. From 1991 to 1998 under Momir Bulatović
, the party endorsed union and close relations with Serbia. In 1998, Bulatović was ousted as leader and its present leader Milo Đukanović took over, advocating distancing Montenegro from Serbia, while Bulatović's faction formed the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
which advocated close ties with Serbia under Bulatović's leadership until he was ousted from that party as well.
At the last legislative elections
in Montenegro on the 10 September 2006, DPS along with SDP
(Coalition for European Montenegro) won 39 out of 81 seats, and the right to appoint the Government
. At the rerun for Albanian minority representatives, it won a single seat, and the Forca merged its seat into DPS, with a total outcome of 40 seat, just the needed parliamentary majority. DPS itself got 32 seats, one was transferred to the partner Croatian Civic Initiative
.
on the first democratic elections. Three men emerging as leaders of this new party swept into power during the Anti-bureaucratic revolution
: Milo Đukanović, Momir Bulatović
and Svetozar Marović
.
After an easy win over People's Party of Montenegro and anti-war and independence-oriented Liberal Alliance of Montenegro
, the DPS with Momir Bulatović as the president, opted for a federation with Serbia
, which resulted in the creation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The entire party leadership were close followers of Slobodan Milošević
, supporting his policies and unconditionally aligning Montenegro with Serbia in all decisions during the turbulent 1990s.
In mid-1990s, a split at the party's highest level occurred. As Serbia under Milošević became increasingly internationally criticized for its support of Serb separatists in the controversial wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina
and Croatia
, Montenegro was also becoming alienated, international observers claimed that Bulatović was little more than a puppet leader of Milošević. While Momir Bulatović insisted on continuing support to Milošević, an emerging faction led by Milo Đukanović distanced itself from Serbian leadership. A bitter fight over control within DPS began, and Đukanović came out clear winner. On 1997 Đukanović and Bulatović ran against each other at presidential elections, and after two run-offs Đukanović won with a slim majority. In its refusal to accept the results of elections, justified by alleged irregularities, Bulatović's faction created a near-warlike atmosphere in Montenegro. The results were confirmed. The elections were a turning point for the DPS.
Bulatović's defeated fraction of DPS created a new party, Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
(SNP), which became the major opposition party in Montenegro.
From this point, the DPS government gradually severed ties with Serbia by taking over control over customs, introducing first the German mark
, and later the Euro
as legal tender, and generally reducing the influence of federal government on Montenegro. In time, Milo Đukanović became a fierce opponent of Milošević's regime, thus gaining worldwide support and sympathy for Montenegro.
When Milošević's federal government was overthrown on October 5, 2000, the DPS began to be a proponent of Montenegrin independence. The campaign for the 2002 parliamentary elections was devoted to the question of Montenegro's independence. However, the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro
came into force early in 2003 and required a three year waiting period before an independence referendum. Until then Montenegro remained in loose union with Serbia, called Serbia and Montenegro
.
The DPS is considered the party most responsible for the success of the referendum
that was held on 21 May 2006. 55.5% of Montenegrins voted for independence, and as a result Montenegro became an independent state on 3 June 2006.
In the first parliamentary elections
in independent Montenegro
, the Coalition for European Montenegro (DPS and SDP
) won 41 out of 81 seats in Montenegrin parliament, thus winning an absolute majority of the seats and confirming its position as the strongest Montenegrin political party.
On 3 October 2006, Đukanović announced that he would not accept the nomination for the position of Prime Minister
again, although he would remain the president of the party. The vice-president of the party, Svetozar Marović, also said that he would not take up any positions in the government. Instead, the party leaders picked Željko Šturanović
, former Minister of Justice, to be the new Prime Minister.
Šturanović resigned on 31 January 2008 for health reasons, with Đukanović occupying the Prime Minister position once again. DPS nominated Filip Vujanović
, party vice president and incumbent President of Montenegro
to run for presidency again in Montenegrin presidential election
on 6 April 2008. He won in the first round with 51% of the vote.
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro continued its dominance in Montenegrin politics
by emerging victorious once again on 2009 parliamentary election
. The Coalition for a European Montenegro, headed by DPS, won 47 out of 81 seats in Parliament of Montenegro
. This outcome of the elections implies that DPS will have a major role in Government of Montenegro
for another four years.
Đukanović resigned again as Montenegrin prime minister in December 2010 but retains his role as DPS party leader.
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
: Demokratska Partija Socijalista Crne Gore, Демократска Партија Социјалиста Црне Горе) is the ruling social-democratic political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
.
It is the successor of the Yugoslav Communist League
League of Communists of Yugoslavia
League of Communists of Yugoslavia , before 1952 the Communist Party of Yugoslavia League of Communists of Yugoslavia (Serbo-Croatian: Savez komunista Jugoslavije/Савез комуниста Југославије, Slovene: Zveza komunistov Jugoslavije, Macedonian: Сојуз на комунистите на Југославија, Sojuz na...
's Montenegrin branch
League of Communists of Montenegro
The League of Communists of Montenegro was the Montenegrin branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, the sole legal party of Yugoslavia from 1945 to 1990...
. It was renamed in 1991. The DPS has governed Montenegro since 1991, though it became factionalized. From 1991 to 1998 under Momir Bulatović
Momir Bulatovic
Momir Bulatović , formerly served as a Yugoslavian and Montenegrin politician. Bulatović became federal President of Montenegro while Montenegro was part of a Yugoslav federation, and also Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
, the party endorsed union and close relations with Serbia. In 1998, Bulatović was ousted as leader and its present leader Milo Đukanović took over, advocating distancing Montenegro from Serbia, while Bulatović's faction formed the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
The Socialist People's Party of Montenegro is a socialist opposition political party in Montenegro. It has 16 MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, which it won on the 2009 parliamentary election...
which advocated close ties with Serbia under Bulatović's leadership until he was ousted from that party as well.
At the last legislative elections
Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2006
The election for the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro in the newly independent Republic of Montenegro took place on September 10, 2006, with Prime Minister Milo Đukanović claiming absolute victory for his centre-left, pro-European Union party the next day...
in Montenegro on the 10 September 2006, DPS along with SDP
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro
The Social Democratic Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro....
(Coalition for European Montenegro) won 39 out of 81 seats, and the right to appoint the Government
Government of Montenegro
The Government of Montenegro is the executive branch of state authority in Montenegro. It is headed by the prime minister. It comprises the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers as well as ministers....
. At the rerun for Albanian minority representatives, it won a single seat, and the Forca merged its seat into DPS, with a total outcome of 40 seat, just the needed parliamentary majority. DPS itself got 32 seats, one was transferred to the partner Croatian Civic Initiative
Croatian Civic Initiative
The Croatian Civic Initiative is a Croat minority political party in Montenegro. The party was formed in 2002. It first participated in elections in the Tivat municipality that year, and is still based in the town...
.
History
DPS was created after the breakup of SFR Yugoslavia, with the introduction of a multi-party political system. It is the successor of former Communist party, and so it inherited the party infrastructure, giving it a significant head startHead start (positioning)
In positioning, a head start is a start in advance of the starting position of others in competition, or simply toward the finish line or desired outcome...
on the first democratic elections. Three men emerging as leaders of this new party swept into power during the Anti-bureaucratic revolution
Anti-bureaucratic revolution
Anti-bureaucratic revolution as a term, refers to a series of mass protests against governments of Yugoslavian republics and autonomous provinces during 1988 and 1989, which led to resignations of leaderships of Kosovo, Vojvodina and Montenegro, and the capture of power by politicians close to...
: Milo Đukanović, Momir Bulatović
Momir Bulatovic
Momir Bulatović , formerly served as a Yugoslavian and Montenegrin politician. Bulatović became federal President of Montenegro while Montenegro was part of a Yugoslav federation, and also Prime Minister of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
and Svetozar Marović
Svetozar Marovic
Svetozar Marović ; born March 31, 1955) is a lawyer and a Montenegrin politician. He was the only president of Serbia and Montenegro...
.
After an easy win over People's Party of Montenegro and anti-war and independence-oriented Liberal Alliance of Montenegro
Liberal Alliance of Montenegro
The Liberal Alliance of Montenegro was a liberal political party in Montenegro. The party used to be a member of Liberal International....
, the DPS with Momir Bulatović as the president, opted for a federation with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
, which resulted in the creation of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. The entire party leadership were close followers of Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
, supporting his policies and unconditionally aligning Montenegro with Serbia in all decisions during the turbulent 1990s.
In mid-1990s, a split at the party's highest level occurred. As Serbia under Milošević became increasingly internationally criticized for its support of Serb separatists in the controversial wars in Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bosnia and Herzegovina , sometimes called Bosnia-Herzegovina or simply Bosnia, is a country in Southern Europe, on the Balkan Peninsula. Bordered by Croatia to the north, west and south, Serbia to the east, and Montenegro to the southeast, Bosnia and Herzegovina is almost landlocked, except for the...
and Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, Montenegro was also becoming alienated, international observers claimed that Bulatović was little more than a puppet leader of Milošević. While Momir Bulatović insisted on continuing support to Milošević, an emerging faction led by Milo Đukanović distanced itself from Serbian leadership. A bitter fight over control within DPS began, and Đukanović came out clear winner. On 1997 Đukanović and Bulatović ran against each other at presidential elections, and after two run-offs Đukanović won with a slim majority. In its refusal to accept the results of elections, justified by alleged irregularities, Bulatović's faction created a near-warlike atmosphere in Montenegro. The results were confirmed. The elections were a turning point for the DPS.
Bulatović's defeated fraction of DPS created a new party, Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
The Socialist People's Party of Montenegro is a socialist opposition political party in Montenegro. It has 16 MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, which it won on the 2009 parliamentary election...
(SNP), which became the major opposition party in Montenegro.
From this point, the DPS government gradually severed ties with Serbia by taking over control over customs, introducing first the German mark
German mark
The Deutsche Mark |mark]], abbreviated "DM") was the official currency of West Germany and Germany until the adoption of the euro in 2002. It is commonly called the "Deutschmark" in English but not in German. Germans often say "Mark" or "D-Mark"...
, and later the Euro
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
as legal tender, and generally reducing the influence of federal government on Montenegro. In time, Milo Đukanović became a fierce opponent of Milošević's regime, thus gaining worldwide support and sympathy for Montenegro.
When Milošević's federal government was overthrown on October 5, 2000, the DPS began to be a proponent of Montenegrin independence. The campaign for the 2002 parliamentary elections was devoted to the question of Montenegro's independence. However, the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro
Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro
The Constitutional Charter of the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro came into force on 4 February 2003, and united Serbia and Montenegro under one government, the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro, replacing the earlier Federal Republic of Yugoslavia....
came into force early in 2003 and required a three year waiting period before an independence referendum. Until then Montenegro remained in loose union with Serbia, called Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro
Serbia and Montenegro was a country in southeastern Europe, formed from two former republics of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia : Serbia and Montenegro. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia, it was established in 1992 as a federation called the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia...
.
The DPS is considered the party most responsible for the success of the referendum
Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro that was held on 21 May 2006.The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%...
that was held on 21 May 2006. 55.5% of Montenegrins voted for independence, and as a result Montenegro became an independent state on 3 June 2006.
In the first parliamentary elections
Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2006
The election for the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro in the newly independent Republic of Montenegro took place on September 10, 2006, with Prime Minister Milo Đukanović claiming absolute victory for his centre-left, pro-European Union party the next day...
in independent Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
, the Coalition for European Montenegro (DPS and SDP
Social Democratic Party of Montenegro
The Social Democratic Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro....
) won 41 out of 81 seats in Montenegrin parliament, thus winning an absolute majority of the seats and confirming its position as the strongest Montenegrin political party.
On 3 October 2006, Đukanović announced that he would not accept the nomination for the position of Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Montenegro
The Prime Minister of Montenegro , is the head of the Government of Montenegro. The role of the Prime Minister is to direct the work of the Government, and to submit to the Parliament the Government's Program, including a list of proposed ministers...
again, although he would remain the president of the party. The vice-president of the party, Svetozar Marović, also said that he would not take up any positions in the government. Instead, the party leaders picked Željko Šturanović
Željko Šturanovic
Željko Šturanović is a former Prime Minister of Montenegro who served from November 10, 2006 to February 29, 2008.-Early life:Šturanović was born in Nikšić, in what was then the People's Republic of Montenegro, part of the Federal People's Republic of Yugoslavia.-Appointment as Prime Minister:He...
, former Minister of Justice, to be the new Prime Minister.
Šturanović resigned on 31 January 2008 for health reasons, with Đukanović occupying the Prime Minister position once again. DPS nominated Filip Vujanović
Filip Vujanovic
Filip Vujanović is a Montenegrin politician who, since 2003, has served as the President of Montenegro. He is the first President of Montenegro since it split ties with Serbia and became an independent nation in June 2006...
, party vice president and incumbent President of Montenegro
President of Montenegro
-Presidents of Montenegro:-See also:*President of Serbia and Montenegro*President of Yugoslavia*List of Presidents of Montenegro*Prime Minister of Montenegro-External links:*...
to run for presidency again in Montenegrin presidential election
Montenegrin presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Montenegro on 6 April 2008; it was the country's first since independence. According to a compromise with the opposition, local elections in Herceg-Novi and Tivat were held at the same time. The law on presidential elections was passed on 27 December 2007....
on 6 April 2008. He won in the first round with 51% of the vote.
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro continued its dominance in Montenegrin politics
Politics of Montenegro
Politics of Montenegro takes place in a framework of a parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of Montenegro is the head of government, and of a multi-party system. Executive power is exercised by the government...
by emerging victorious once again on 2009 parliamentary election
Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2009
Pre-term parliamentary elections in Montenegro were scheduled by President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović on 27 January 2009 by the Decree of Scheduling Elections for the Assembly of Montenegro, in accordance with Article 92 point 5 of the Montenegrin Constitution:..and Article 95:As well as Article...
. The Coalition for a European Montenegro, headed by DPS, won 47 out of 81 seats in Parliament of Montenegro
Parliament of Montenegro
The Parliament of Montenegro is the unicameral legislature of Montenegro. The Parliament currently has 81 members, each elected for a four-year term. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Ranko Krivokapić, while the deputy speakers are Željko Šturanović and Rifat Rastoder...
. This outcome of the elections implies that DPS will have a major role in Government of Montenegro
Government of Montenegro
The Government of Montenegro is the executive branch of state authority in Montenegro. It is headed by the prime minister. It comprises the prime minister, the deputy prime ministers as well as ministers....
for another four years.
Đukanović resigned again as Montenegrin prime minister in December 2010 but retains his role as DPS party leader.