Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
became the first prime minister of post-Communist Montenegro and apart from a few
years of 'retirement' he has been prime minister or president ever since. However,
Ðukanović remains a controversial figure. While still president he was investigated by an
Italian anti-mafia unit and charged for his alleged role in a billion dollar cigarette-smug-
gling operation; the charges were dropped in 2009.
Part of the DPS's continued popularity is the role it played in gaining Montenegro its
independence. Several of the main opposition parties, especially the Serb-aligned parties,
were strongly opposed to the break with Serbia, and although most have publicly
dropped their anti-independence stance, many voters remain wary of their intentions. In
the latest election a new non-ethnic, pro-independence party Pozitivna Crna Gora won
8% of the vote, and arguably it's parties such as these that will provide a new form of
political choice for the electorate in the future.
The Big Issues
In 2012, thousands of people took to the streets of Podgorica in a series of marches
protesting against corruption, organised crime and the worsening economy. Montenegro
hasn't been spared the effects of the international economic crisis. The rapid growth that
followed independence has slowed, unemployment has shot up and average incomes re-
main low.
Foreign Affairs
magazine recently published an essay describing Montenegro as a
'mafia state'. While that might be overdramatising the situation, the European Commis-
sion noted in its 2012 Montenegro Progress Report that 'corruption remains widespread
and continues to be a serious cause for concern, hindering law enforcement investigations
of organised crime'. The commission did, however, note that 'some progress has been
made on fighting corruption' since its previous report.
NATO & the EU
Meanwhile, Montenegro has been pushing ahead with its goal to join both the North At-
lantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) and the European Union (EU). Shortly after inde-
pendence Montenegro applied to join them and in June 2012 it opened formal accession
negotiations with the EU.
While most Montenegrins strongly favour EU membership, joining NATO is much
more contentious. Memories of the NATO bombing of Serbia during the Kosovo conflict
are still fresh. In a recent interview with
Dan
newspaper, Metropolitan Amfilohije of the
