Movement for Changes
Encyclopedia
Movement for Changes is a political party
in Montenegro
which has a proclaimed goal to integrate their country into the European Union
and to support political and economic reforms to bring it into line with European norms. It was founded by a group of economists and academics in September 2002, modeled after the Group 17 Plus in Serbia and is led by Nebojša Medojević
. It operated as a non-governmental organization
under the name Group for Changes (Grupa za promjene) until July 17, 2006, when it reconstituted itself as a political party.
The party's origins lie in a non-governmental organization that bent itself on enlightening the people woven by the, as they refer to it, "undemocratic regime of the Democratic Party of Socialists" that rules in Montenegro, and ended up as a pro-European democratic political party whose main goal is to dethrone Milo Đukanović and defeat DPS.
In the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
, PzP remained neutral and did not campaign at any of the two blocs, their choice being to leave the people to decide their fate without the Movement's involvement. Although prominent members of the party mainly in term supported an independent Montenegrin state, they refused to join Bloc for Independent Montenegro. After the referendum, they stated that they did so because they vehemently oppose Milo Đukanović's rule, which they see as a corrupt tyranny and undemocratic dictatorship. This is, however, a matter of controversy, as the Movement has maintained close ties with the Together for Change
pro-unionist bloc.
In the 2006 parliamentary elections
, the party ran for the first time and received an outstanding result for a new party, winning 11 of 81 seats and fulfilling the massive expectations. It has become a strong opposition party in the government and has been forging links with the Serb People's Party and the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
in attempts to unify the opposition in different ways.
The Movement for Changes' amendments to the proposal of the new Constitution of Montenegro (one of them not to entirely exclude Serbian
as the official language of Montenegro, next to proposed Montenegrin
) were mainly adopted by ruling coalition, and PzP has agreed to give support for the required two-third super-majority to adopt the Constitution. This move of the Movement for Changes has damaged its ties with other opposition parties to some extent. The presence of senior officials of Movement for Changes at protests against Montenegrin recognition of Kosovo, on the other side, alienated some of the Albanian
voters of the Movement.
These shifts in policies had a negative impact on image of Movement for Changes, thus the party saw a dramatic fall at 2009 parliamentary election
, falling from 11 to 5 seats in Parliament of Montenegro
.
The Movement for Changes leader, Nebojša Medojević, was a candidate in the 2008 presidential election
. He came in third, gathering nearly 17% of the vote.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Montenegro
Montenegro
Montenegro Montenegrin: Crna Gora Црна Гора , meaning "Black Mountain") is a country located in Southeastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the south-west and is bordered by Croatia to the west, Bosnia and Herzegovina to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast and Albania to the...
which has a proclaimed goal to integrate their country into the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
and to support political and economic reforms to bring it into line with European norms. It was founded by a group of economists and academics in September 2002, modeled after the Group 17 Plus in Serbia and is led by Nebojša Medojević
Nebojša Medojevic
Nebojša Medojević is a politician in Montenegro. He is the president of Movement for Changes , a political party emerging from the Montenegrin NGO Group for Changes...
. It operated as a non-governmental organization
Non-governmental organization
A non-governmental organization is a legally constituted organization created by natural or legal persons that operates independently from any government. The term originated from the United Nations , and is normally used to refer to organizations that do not form part of the government and are...
under the name Group for Changes (Grupa za promjene) until July 17, 2006, when it reconstituted itself as a political party.
The party's origins lie in a non-governmental organization that bent itself on enlightening the people woven by the, as they refer to it, "undemocratic regime of the Democratic Party of Socialists" that rules in Montenegro, and ended up as a pro-European democratic political party whose main goal is to dethrone Milo Đukanović and defeat DPS.
In the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
The Montenegrin independence referendum was a referendum on the independence of the Republic of Montenegro from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro that was held on 21 May 2006.The total turnout of the referendum was 86.5%...
, PzP remained neutral and did not campaign at any of the two blocs, their choice being to leave the people to decide their fate without the Movement's involvement. Although prominent members of the party mainly in term supported an independent Montenegrin state, they refused to join Bloc for Independent Montenegro. After the referendum, they stated that they did so because they vehemently oppose Milo Đukanović's rule, which they see as a corrupt tyranny and undemocratic dictatorship. This is, however, a matter of controversy, as the Movement has maintained close ties with the Together for Change
Together for Change
Together for Change was a political alliance in Montenegro that existed from 2001 to 2006, originally known as Together for Yugoslavia . It based itself upon the necessity for a united Yugoslav state with Serbia. Predrag Bulatović was its wingleader...
pro-unionist bloc.
In the 2006 parliamentary elections
Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2006
The election for the Constitutional Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro in the newly independent Republic of Montenegro took place on September 10, 2006, with Prime Minister Milo Đukanović claiming absolute victory for his centre-left, pro-European Union party the next day...
, the party ran for the first time and received an outstanding result for a new party, winning 11 of 81 seats and fulfilling the massive expectations. It has become a strong opposition party in the government and has been forging links with the Serb People's Party and the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
The Socialist People's Party of Montenegro is a socialist opposition political party in Montenegro. It has 16 MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, which it won on the 2009 parliamentary election...
in attempts to unify the opposition in different ways.
The Movement for Changes' amendments to the proposal of the new Constitution of Montenegro (one of them not to entirely exclude Serbian
Serbian language
Serbian is a form of Serbo-Croatian, a South Slavic language, spoken by Serbs in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia and neighbouring countries....
as the official language of Montenegro, next to proposed Montenegrin
Montenegrin language
Montenegrin is a name used for the Serbo-Croatian language as spoken by Montenegrins; it also refers to an incipient standardized form of the Shtokavian dialect of Serbo-Croatian used as the official language of Montenegro...
) were mainly adopted by ruling coalition, and PzP has agreed to give support for the required two-third super-majority to adopt the Constitution. This move of the Movement for Changes has damaged its ties with other opposition parties to some extent. The presence of senior officials of Movement for Changes at protests against Montenegrin recognition of Kosovo, on the other side, alienated some of the Albanian
Albanians in Montenegro
Albanians in Montenegro constitute 4.91% of the county's total population. They mainly live in South-Eastern Montenegro, in the region commonly known as Malesija as well as in the municipality of Ulcinj .-Geography:...
voters of the Movement.
These shifts in policies had a negative impact on image of Movement for Changes, thus the party saw a dramatic fall at 2009 parliamentary election
Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2009
Pre-term parliamentary elections in Montenegro were scheduled by President of Montenegro Filip Vujanović on 27 January 2009 by the Decree of Scheduling Elections for the Assembly of Montenegro, in accordance with Article 92 point 5 of the Montenegrin Constitution:..and Article 95:As well as Article...
, falling from 11 to 5 seats in Parliament of Montenegro
Parliament of Montenegro
The Parliament of Montenegro is the unicameral legislature of Montenegro. The Parliament currently has 81 members, each elected for a four-year term. The current Speaker of the Parliament is Ranko Krivokapić, while the deputy speakers are Željko Šturanović and Rifat Rastoder...
.
The Movement for Changes leader, Nebojša Medojević, was a candidate in the 2008 presidential election
Montenegrin presidential election, 2008
A presidential election was held in Montenegro on 6 April 2008; it was the country's first since independence. According to a compromise with the opposition, local elections in Herceg-Novi and Tivat were held at the same time. The law on presidential elections was passed on 27 December 2007....
. He came in third, gathering nearly 17% of the vote.
External links
- Official Website (in Serbo-Croatian, with some English content)