Together for Change
Encyclopedia
Together for Change was a political alliance
in Montenegro
that existed from 2001 to 2006, originally known as Together for Yugoslavia (ЗЗЈ, ZZJ). It based itself upon the necessity for a united Yugoslav state with Serbia. Predrag Bulatović
was its wingleader. The pro-European semi-conservative coalition also based itself on economic and democratic reforms, bringing down of the authoritarian regime of Milo Đukanović.
The political alliance merged after a drastic change within the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro
. With Slobodan Milošević
and his SPS
defeated in Serbia and him on trial at the Hague, SNP CG lost its main financial supplier and room was made for the democratic wing under Predrag Bulatovic to come to prominence. The party had purged in 2001 its entire old pro-Milošević leadership, with its new president Predrag Bulatović deliberately voting for the removal of most members of the party who had close or intimate links with either Slobodan Milošević or its already by then former leader Momir Bulatović. The party adopted a new pro-European program and pointed out that it is capable of conducting real lustration in order to make a final brake with the policies of the 1990s, unlike the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
which saw only a change in political ideology, but with precisely the same men from the reign of Slobodan Milošević gathered around Milo Đukanović. Braking ties with parties belonging to the old regime, it ended the For Yugoslavia
short-lived pro-Milošević political alliance, with Momir Bulatovic's People's Socialist Party
taking charge over it and transforming it into the Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia
. SNP CG however kept only the Serbian People's Party of Montenegro
at its side, although putting it at hard pressure to replace its old leadership that represented unpopular characters from the 1990s and change its fiercely Serbian nationalistic pursuits. As a result, the party became more moderate with Andrija Mandić
as its new president. Emphasizing the need to emulate DPS from 1998 with its broad anti-Milošević coalition, SNP searched to form a broad anti-Đukanović coalition on the very basis to gather all political forces that wanted to maintain the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, unlike ruling Milo's coalition which desired an independent Montenegrin state. The People's Party of Montenegro under the new leadership of Predrag had abandoned Milo's coalition because of its disappointment in Milo's promises of reforms and ideological differences over Montenegro's independence proposing and had aligned with SNP. Thus SNP CG made the Together for Yugoslavia (Заједно за Југославију) alliance with SrNS CG and NS CG.
The Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2001
saw practically just two choices: this SNP-led alliance and Milo's Victory is of Montenegro coalition, both very large coalition of strong potential. Both sides tried to get the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro
at its side, but ZZJ didn't do it because LSCG's frontline goal was an independent Montenegran state, the very thing this alliance is opposing as its mainstream policy. ZZJ was also at very bad relations with LSCG already because of SNP's past - LSCG opposed Milošević ever since its creation in 1990, and has never joined DPS despite they too changed their political ideology.
The coalition won the 2001 parliamentary election in Montenegro under the name Together for Yugoslavia (Zajedno za Jugoslaviju) with 148,513 votes or 40.87% and 33 seats (21 for SNP CG, 9 for NS CG and 3 for SrNS CG), but failed to form a government.
At the legislative elections in Montenegro
, on 21 October 2002, the coalition won 38.4% (133,900 votes) of the popular vote and 33 of 75 seats (19 for SNP CG, 6 for SrNS CG and 5 for NS CG). It had represented the entire opposition force in Montenegro, and was a strong proponent of union with Serbia
. The union became more dis-unified after the DSS CG seceded from SNS CG in 2003 (taking 2 of SNS' 6 MPs in the Parliament).
The pro-Yugoslavian Alliance's last major political movement was during the Montenegrin independence referendum, 2006
, when it made the Unionist Bloc supporting the NO option for independence. They got 185,002 votes, or 44.51% of the total vote, losing the referendum. However the referendum was highly and deeply controversial, so the Bloc never really accepted its results.
The political alliance was composed by:
later after its creation also
After the independence referendum the Alliance was demolished, the Serbian People's Party left, forming a Serb-centric alliance, while SNP, NS and DSS ran as a coalition on the Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2006
. With the poor outcome of the coalition - winning only 11 seats, despite huge promises and all the expectations that this election would be final Đukanović's fall - the unofficial leader of the Yugoslavist bloc Predrag Bulatović
resigned from political leadership and SNP distanced itself from NS and DSS, ending the last fringes of the once huge alliance.
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...
that existed from 2001 to 2006, originally known as Together for Yugoslavia (ЗЗЈ, ZZJ). It based itself upon the necessity for a united Yugoslav state with Serbia. Predrag Bulatović
Predrag Bulatovic
Predrag Bulatović is a Montenegrin politician. He was the president of the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro and unofficial leader of the Bloc Together for Changes and the entire "half of the Montenegrin world in favor of Serbia"...
was its wingleader. The pro-European semi-conservative coalition also based itself on economic and democratic reforms, bringing down of the authoritarian regime of Milo Đukanović.
The political alliance merged after a drastic change within 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...
. With Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević
Slobodan Milošević was President of Serbia and Yugoslavia. He served as the President of Socialist Republic of Serbia and Republic of Serbia from 1989 until 1997 in three terms and as President of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia from 1997 to 2000...
and his SPS
Socialist Party of Serbia
The Socialist Party of Serbia is officially a democratic socialist political party in Serbia. It is also widely recognized as a de facto Serbian nationalist party, though the party itself does not officially acknowledge this...
defeated in Serbia and him on trial at the Hague, SNP CG lost its main financial supplier and room was made for the democratic wing under Predrag Bulatovic to come to prominence. The party had purged in 2001 its entire old pro-Milošević leadership, with its new president Predrag Bulatović deliberately voting for the removal of most members of the party who had close or intimate links with either Slobodan Milošević or its already by then former leader Momir Bulatović. The party adopted a new pro-European program and pointed out that it is capable of conducting real lustration in order to make a final brake with the policies of the 1990s, unlike the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is the ruling social-democratic political party in Montenegro....
which saw only a change in political ideology, but with precisely the same men from the reign of Slobodan Milošević gathered around Milo Đukanović. Braking ties with parties belonging to the old regime, it ended the For Yugoslavia
For Yugoslavia
For Yugoslavia is a political alliance that existed in the Republic of Montenegro from the late 1990s to 2001. It was led by Momir Bulatović' SNP and based on pro-Miloševićism...
short-lived pro-Milošević political alliance, with Momir Bulatovic's People's Socialist Party
People's Socialist Party of Montenegro
People Socialist Party of Montenegro was an opposition political party in Montenegro within the Serbian List due to its support of political union of Montenegro with Serbia, holding 1 seat in the Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro...
taking charge over it and transforming it into the Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia
Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia
The Patriotic Coalition for Yugoslavia was a political alliance in Montenegro that ran on the 21 October 2002 legislative election...
. SNP CG however kept only the Serbian People's Party of Montenegro
Serbian People's Party of Montenegro
The Serb People's Party was a political party in Montenegro.The SNS was led by Andrija Mandić. At the last legislative elections in Montenegro, on September 10, 2006, The Serbian List led by the SNS won 12 out of 81 seats...
at its side, although putting it at hard pressure to replace its old leadership that represented unpopular characters from the 1990s and change its fiercely Serbian nationalistic pursuits. As a result, the party became more moderate with Andrija Mandić
Andrija Mandic
Andrija Mandić is a Montenegrin politician. He is the President of the major ethnic Serb political party in Montenegro, the New Serb Democracy...
as its new president. Emphasizing the need to emulate DPS from 1998 with its broad anti-Milošević coalition, SNP searched to form a broad anti-Đukanović coalition on the very basis to gather all political forces that wanted to maintain the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia, unlike ruling Milo's coalition which desired an independent Montenegrin state. The People's Party of Montenegro under the new leadership of Predrag had abandoned Milo's coalition because of its disappointment in Milo's promises of reforms and ideological differences over Montenegro's independence proposing and had aligned with SNP. Thus SNP CG made the Together for Yugoslavia (Заједно за Југославију) alliance with SrNS CG and NS CG.
The Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2001
Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2001
Montenegrin parliamentary elections were held on April 22, 2001.- Victory is of Montenegro :The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro received 30 seats, while the Socialdemocratic Party of Montenegro received 6 seats....
saw practically just two choices: this SNP-led alliance and Milo's Victory is of Montenegro coalition, both very large coalition of strong potential. Both sides tried to get the Liberal Alliance of Montenegro
Liberal Alliance of Montenegro
The Liberal Alliance of Montenegro was a liberal political party in Montenegro. The party used to be a member of Liberal International....
at its side, but ZZJ didn't do it because LSCG's frontline goal was an independent Montenegran state, the very thing this alliance is opposing as its mainstream policy. ZZJ was also at very bad relations with LSCG already because of SNP's past - LSCG opposed Milošević ever since its creation in 1990, and has never joined DPS despite they too changed their political ideology.
The coalition won the 2001 parliamentary election in Montenegro under the name Together for Yugoslavia (Zajedno za Jugoslaviju) with 148,513 votes or 40.87% and 33 seats (21 for SNP CG, 9 for NS CG and 3 for SrNS CG), but failed to form a government.
At the legislative elections in Montenegro
Elections in Montenegro
Montenegro elects on national level a legislature and a head of state. The Assembly of Montenegro has 81 members elected for a four year term. The President of Montenegro is elected at large with a runoff if need be...
, on 21 October 2002, the coalition won 38.4% (133,900 votes) of the popular vote and 33 of 75 seats (19 for SNP CG, 6 for SrNS CG and 5 for NS CG). It had represented the entire opposition force in Montenegro, and was a strong proponent of union with Serbia
Serbia
Serbia , officially the Republic of Serbia , is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeast Europe, covering the southern part of the Carpathian basin and the central part of the Balkans...
. The union became more dis-unified after the DSS CG seceded from SNS CG in 2003 (taking 2 of SNS' 6 MPs in the Parliament).
The pro-Yugoslavian Alliance's last major political movement was during 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%...
, when it made the Unionist Bloc supporting the NO option for independence. They got 185,002 votes, or 44.51% of the total vote, losing the referendum. However the referendum was highly and deeply controversial, so the Bloc never really accepted its results.
The political alliance was composed by:
- Socialist People's Party of MontenegroSocialist People's Party of MontenegroThe 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...
(SNP CG) - People's Party of Montenegro (NS CG)
- Serbian People's Party of MontenegroSerbian People's Party of MontenegroThe Serb People's Party was a political party in Montenegro.The SNS was led by Andrija Mandić. At the last legislative elections in Montenegro, on September 10, 2006, The Serbian List led by the SNS won 12 out of 81 seats...
(SNS CG)
later after its creation also
- Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro (DSS CG)
- the Liberal Alliance of MontenegroLiberal Alliance of MontenegroThe Liberal Alliance of Montenegro was a liberal political party in Montenegro. The party used to be a member of Liberal International....
(LSCG) is known for close cooperations with the bloc, but never really entered the coalition
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...
. With the poor outcome of the coalition - winning only 11 seats, despite huge promises and all the expectations that this election would be final Đukanović's fall - the unofficial leader of the Yugoslavist bloc Predrag Bulatović
Predrag Bulatovic
Predrag Bulatović is a Montenegrin politician. He was the president of the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro and unofficial leader of the Bloc Together for Changes and the entire "half of the Montenegrin world in favor of Serbia"...
resigned from political leadership and SNP distanced itself from NS and DSS, ending the last fringes of the once huge alliance.