The US is concerned about the entry of pro-Russian parties into the Montenegrin government

The pro-Russian party will have two vice presidential posts and head two ministers, while the Bosnian party will have one vice president and five ministers.

With the addition of these parties, the government of Montenegro will now have 32 members – the largest government in the country’s history.

The Prime Minister of Montenegro, Millojko Spajic, said in his speech that Montenegro has the best peace in its history.

“This government guarantees stability and maturity.” “We are indicators of how Serbs and Albanians, Serbs and Bosniaks can live and work together,” said Spajic.

The representative of the Democratic Party of Socialists, Andrija Nikolic, commented on the entry of pro-Russian parties into the executive and said that the government is led by Moscow and Belgrade.

“The head and the brain are in Moscow. The head of this government is [parliamentary speaker] Andrija Mandic, so there is no Montenegrin in it.”

The US is “concerned” about the entry of pro-Russian parties into the government

The Embassy of the United States of America in Podgorica expressed concern about the inclusion in the government of parties and leaders who do not condemn the Russian aggression against Ukraine and are against European Union sanctions against Russia.

The American embassy told Radio Free Europe that it supports a government that is committed to the country’s membership in the EU, respect for Euro-Atlantic values and full participation in NATO, reflecting Montenegro’s multicultural composition.

“We are concerned about the inclusion in the government of parties and leaders who do not condemn Russian aggression against Ukraine, are against European Union sanctions against Russia and whose actions are in direct contradiction to the principle of good neighborly relations,” said American Embassy.

The American Embassy called on the government and MPs to remain focused on the common goal, which is Montenegro’s EU membership, and to avoid unproductive issues that jeopardize this goal and lead to divisions.

“As a close ally and partner of Montenegro, the United States will continue to support and recognize the constructive actions of the Assembly and the Government, highlighting activities that contradict Euro-Atlantic values and jeopardize concrete progress toward integration in the European Union,” the American embassy said in a response to RFE.

This is the first reformatting of the Spajic’s government, which was formed at the end of October last year with the votes of 46 out of a total of 81 MPs.

The government at the time was supported by 13 MPs from the parties of the recently dissolved DF – namely Andrija Mandic’s New Serbian Democracy and Milan Knezević’s People’s Democratic Party – on the condition that they join this government for the year.

The policies of these parties contradict the official policies of Montenegro, which is a candidate country for membership of the European Union.

These parties advocate the lifting of sanctions against Russia imposed due to its aggression in Ukraine, do not recognize Kosovo’s independence, reject Montenegro’s membership in NATO, deny the genocide in Srebrenica, support convicted war criminals Radovan Karadžić and Ratko Mladić, etc.

In addition to supporting Russian President Vladimir Putin, the leaders of these parties maintain close political relations with the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić and the President of Republika Srpska Milorad Dodik.

The US has in some cases expressed concern about the inclusion of parties in power that oppose Euro-Atlantic values.

European institutions have expressed similar concerns.

However, the Assembly of Montenegro elected Andrija Mandic as President at the end of October 2023. He was also supported by the representatives of the Spajic’s movement Europe Now./RFE