Uncertainty Looms in Negotiations on New Montenegrin Cabinet

Presidential elections in Montenegro, Podgorica, March 19 2023 (BETAPHOTO/AMIR HAMZAGIC)

According to local media, it is difficult to foresee the outcome of the upcoming negotiations for Montenegro’s Cabinet, to be led by the Europe Now Movement, which won the country’s June 11 snap parliamentary elections.

Despite the victory, Europe Now will hold just over a quarter of seats in the assembly and must, therefore, seek partnerships – a situation aggravated by the movement’s poor rapport with potential allies during the pre-election campaign period.

In a statement issued late on June 11, Europe Now leader Milojko Spajic discounted the options of partnering with the Democratic Party of Socialists or Dritan Abazovic’s United Reform Action, and was reserved regarding potential negotiations with members of the former Democratic Front coalition.

Analysts maintain that Europe Now’s election results – which are below pre-election estimates – were negatively affected by the so-called ‘Do Kwon scandal.’ In the final days leading up to the vote, South Korean citizen Do Kwon, suspected of embezzling tens of billions of U.S. dollars through crypto-trade, claimed ties to Europe Now leader Milojko Spajic.

While Spajic denied Do Kwon’s allegations – according to which he helped finance Spajic’s movement – Montenegro’s Prosecutor’s Office has yet to offer an opinion on the case.

The scandal, analysts believe, also damaged Abazovic’s pre-elections campaign and has excluded his party from participating in any talks on the future cabinet. Whether or not their coalition partner – Aleksa Becic’s Democratic Montenegro – will opt to join the negotiations without the United Reform Action, remains to be seen.

The media have also mentioned the possibility of a minority government being formed.