Analyst: Snap Elections in Montenegro Less Likely than Cabinet Reshuffle

Milojko Spajic (BETAPHOTO/Parliament of Montenegro)

The professor and political analyst Nikoleta Djukanovic said on Aug. 20 that snap elections were less likely in Montenegro than another cabinet reshuffle, and that the idea of combining parliamentary and all local elections in June 2027 was a dangerous one.

Late in July, members of parliament from the parties in power and the opposition voted for all local elections to be held in one day, in June 2027. "The parties that make up the parliamentary majority will not give up the offices and positions they have easily, especially as they are aware that most of them -- especially PES [Europe Now Movement] -- may not have such an opportunity in their political career again," Djukanovic told BETA.

On the other hand, she said, increasingly frequent strife is evident within the majority -- from lack of alignment when voting on legislation to more and more pronounced differences regarding foreign policy. Still, it is difficult to imagine that all these actors will opt for elections, as such an outcome is not in their favor.

"Elections at this point could favor the opposition most -- not because it has particularly distinguished itself with constructive action, but solely because of the poor performance of the government, lack of reforms and increasingly frequent internal conflicts within the parliamentary majority," Djukanovic said.