Yearbook 2009
Montenegro. At the beginning of the year, President Filip Vujanović announced a new election until March, just over a year in advance. The reason stated was that the government wanted a clear mandate from voters to implement reforms needed for Montenegro to join the EU. The application for membership in the Union had been submitted before the New Year. The opposition said the election was announced in advance so that it would be held before the international financial crisis had a full impact. The economy had shown very good growth following the independence of Serbia in 2006. The government coalition, which is dominated by Prime Minister Milo Đukanović’s Socialist Party, won just over half the votes in the election and received 48 of the 91 seats. According to countryaah, the second largest party was Montenegro’s Socialist People’s Party, supported by 16 percent of voters. See ABBREVIATIONFINDER for abbreviation MW which stands for the nation of Montenegro.
Before the Petrovichs the dignity of Vladika it was not hereditary nor did it involve the exercise of political power. With Danilo, elected in 1700, not without a historical and legal basis, this dignity assumes both characteristics. From him the theocratic form of government began, perfectly consistent with the historical traditions of Montenegro and with the spirit of its people, who since the time of John Crnojević were accustomed to seeing in the monastery of the Nativity of the Virgin of Cettigne the seat where, in a regime of freedom, both powers were exercised. Under Danilo, the traditional anti-Turkish politics takes on even clearer and more uncompromising forms. The Montenegrin Vespers, which freed the country from every Turkophile element, dates back to 1709, although disputed by some. In 1711, accepting the invitation of Peter the Great of Russia, then at war with the Turks, Danilo takes up arms. But after the Russian failure at the Prut, two serious Turkish punitive expeditions (1712-1714) are unleashed against the Montenegrins. The vladika is forced to take refuge in Venetian territory. He goes to Russia to get protection and compensation, but comes back with only 10 thousand rubles, some promises and many nice words. However, it is from these contacts that the Russophilic attitude that will constitute one of the most characteristic notes in Montenegrin life and politics begins in the following centuries. In 1717-18, again against the Turks, Danilo is an ally of Venice which, once again, affirms a sort of very high protectorate over Montenegro by sending a governor with civil and military functions to the side of the viadika.
December
Parliament votes in favor of new government
December 4th
More than three months after the by-elections in August, Parliament is voting for a new government, consisting of the newly formed Alliance for the Future of Montenegro. The new prime minister will be Professor Zdravko Krivokapić, who has entered politics relatively recently and who is widely regarded as a less confrontational politician than many of his predecessors. Krivokapić is non-partisan but has strong ties to the Serbian Orthodox Church. The support from the church is considered to have been of great importance both for his own comet career in politics and the success of his election alliance. For the ministerial posts, Krivokapić chooses to invest in a large proportion of young people and subject matter experts with no previous political experience, a presumed measure to bridge the ideological differences within the alliance.
November
Increase in covid-19 after bishop’s funeral
November 9
Podgorica is shut down for the time being to slow down the rapid increase in covid-19 cases in the capital. Last week’s funeral ceremony for the Orthodox bishop Amfilohije, who in violation of current rules gathered several thousand people in a small area, is believed to be one of the reasons for the rapid increase. According to the country’s public health authority, the total number of cases in Montenegro since the outbreak of the pandemic has increased by 30 percent in just a few weeks. The authority harshly criticizes the Orthodox Church for organizing the mass rally to mourn Amfilohije, who himself died in the suites of covid-19. It was later announced that the Serbian Orthodox patriarch Irinej, who had held the criticized funeral ceremony, had also been infected and died of the disease.