Potentially Critical Points in the Functioning of Thenew Government
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Montenegro's Tribal Legacy
WARNING! The views expressed in FMSO publications and reports are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Montenegro's Tribal Legacy by Major Steven C. Calhoun, US Army Foreign Military Studies Office, Fort Leavenworth, KS. This article appeared in Military Review July-August 2000 The mentality of our people is still very patriarchal. Here the knife, revenge and a tribal (plemenski) system exist as nowhere else.1 The whole country is interconnected and almost everyone knows everyone else. Montenegro is nothing but a large family—all of this augurs nothing good. —Mihajlo Dedejic2 When the military receives an order to deploy into a particular area, planners focus on the terrain so the military can use the ground to its advantage. Montenegro provides an abundance of terrain to study, and it is apparent from the rugged karst topography how this tiny republic received its moniker—the Black Mountain. The territory of Montenegro borders Croatia, Bosnia- Herzegovina, Serbia and Albania and is about the size of Connecticut. Together with the much larger republic of Serbia, Montenegro makes up the current Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY). But the jagged terrain of Montenegro is only part of the military equation. Montenegro has a complex, multilayered society in which tribe and clan can still influence attitudes and loyalties. Misunderstanding tribal dynamics can lead a mission to failure. Russian misunderstanding of tribal and clan influence led to unsuccessful interventions in Afghanistan and Chechnya.3 In Afghanistan, the rural population's tribal organization facilitated their initial resistance to the Soviets. -
Green Parties and Elections to the European Parliament, 1979–2019 Green Par Elections
Chapter 1 Green Parties and Elections, 1979–2019 Green parties and elections to the European Parliament, 1979–2019 Wolfgang Rüdig Introduction The history of green parties in Europe is closely intertwined with the history of elections to the European Parliament. When the first direct elections to the European Parliament took place in June 1979, the development of green parties in Europe was still in its infancy. Only in Belgium and the UK had green parties been formed that took part in these elections; but ecological lists, which were the pre- decessors of green parties, competed in other countries. Despite not winning representation, the German Greens were particularly influ- enced by the 1979 European elections. Five years later, most partic- ipating countries had seen the formation of national green parties, and the first Green MEPs from Belgium and Germany were elected. Green parties have been represented continuously in the European Parliament since 1984. Subsequent years saw Greens from many other countries joining their Belgian and German colleagues in the Euro- pean Parliament. European elections continued to be important for party formation in new EU member countries. In the 1980s it was the South European countries (Greece, Portugal and Spain), following 4 GREENS FOR A BETTER EUROPE their successful transition to democracies, that became members. Green parties did not have a strong role in their national party systems, and European elections became an important focus for party develop- ment. In the 1990s it was the turn of Austria, Finland and Sweden to join; green parties were already well established in all three nations and provided ongoing support for Greens in the European Parliament. -
ESS9 Appendix A3 Political Parties Ed
APPENDIX A3 POLITICAL PARTIES, ESS9 - 2018 ed. 3.0 Austria 2 Belgium 4 Bulgaria 7 Croatia 8 Cyprus 10 Czechia 12 Denmark 14 Estonia 15 Finland 17 France 19 Germany 20 Hungary 21 Iceland 23 Ireland 25 Italy 26 Latvia 28 Lithuania 31 Montenegro 34 Netherlands 36 Norway 38 Poland 40 Portugal 44 Serbia 47 Slovakia 52 Slovenia 53 Spain 54 Sweden 57 Switzerland 58 United Kingdom 61 Version Notes, ESS9 Appendix A3 POLITICAL PARTIES ESS9 edition 3.0 (published 10.12.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Denmark, Iceland. ESS9 edition 2.0 (published 15.06.20): Changes from previous edition: Additional countries: Croatia, Latvia, Lithuania, Montenegro, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden. Austria 1. Political parties Language used in data file: German Year of last election: 2017 Official party names, English 1. Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs (SPÖ) - Social Democratic Party of Austria - 26.9 % names/translation, and size in last 2. Österreichische Volkspartei (ÖVP) - Austrian People's Party - 31.5 % election: 3. Freiheitliche Partei Österreichs (FPÖ) - Freedom Party of Austria - 26.0 % 4. Liste Peter Pilz (PILZ) - PILZ - 4.4 % 5. Die Grünen – Die Grüne Alternative (Grüne) - The Greens – The Green Alternative - 3.8 % 6. Kommunistische Partei Österreichs (KPÖ) - Communist Party of Austria - 0.8 % 7. NEOS – Das Neue Österreich und Liberales Forum (NEOS) - NEOS – The New Austria and Liberal Forum - 5.3 % 8. G!LT - Verein zur Förderung der Offenen Demokratie (GILT) - My Vote Counts! - 1.0 % Description of political parties listed 1. The Social Democratic Party (Sozialdemokratische Partei Österreichs, or SPÖ) is a social above democratic/center-left political party that was founded in 1888 as the Social Democratic Worker's Party (Sozialdemokratische Arbeiterpartei, or SDAP), when Victor Adler managed to unite the various opposing factions. -
Montenegro Guidebook
MONTENEGRO PREFACE Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, lies in a broad plain crossed by five rivers and surrounded by mountains, just 20 kilometers from the Albanian border. The city has a population of around 180,000 people. Bombed into rubble during World War II, Podgorica was rebuilt into a modern urban center, with high-rise apartment buildings and new office and shopping developments. While the latest Balkan war had a low impact on the physical structures, the economic sanctions had a devastating effect on employment and infrastructure. With the help of foreign investment, urban renewal is evident throughout the city, but much of it may still appear run down. Podgorica has a European-style town center with a pedestrian- only walking street (mall) and an assortment of restaurants, cafes, and boutiques. To many, its principal attraction is as a base for the exploration of Montenegro’s natural beauty, with mountains and wild countryside all around and the stunning Adriatic coastline less than an hour away. This is a mountainous region with barren moorlands and virgin forests, with fast-flowing rivers and picturesque lakes; Skadar Lake in particular is of ecological significance. The coastline is known for its sandy beaches and dramatic coves: for example, Kotor – the city that is protected by UNESCO and the wonderful Cathedral of Saint Typhoon; the unique baroque Perast; Saint George and Our Lady of the Rock islands – all locations that tell a story of a lasting civilization and the wealth of the most wonderful bay in the world. The area around the city of Kotor is a UNESCO World Heritage site for its natural beauty and historic significance. -
Professionalization of Green Parties?
Professionalization of Green parties? Analyzing and explaining changes in the external political approach of the Dutch political party GroenLinks Lotte Melenhorst (0712019) Supervisor: Dr. A. S. Zaslove 5 September 2012 Abstract There is a relatively small body of research regarding the ideological and organizational changes of Green parties. What has been lacking so far is an analysis of the way Green parties present them- selves to the outside world, which is especially interesting because it can be expected to strongly influence the image of these parties. The project shows that the Dutch Green party ‘GroenLinks’ has become more professional regarding their ‘external political approach’ – regarding ideological, or- ganizational as well as strategic presentation – during their 20 years of existence. This research pro- ject challenges the core idea of the so-called ‘threshold-approach’, that major organizational changes appear when a party is getting into government. What turns out to be at least as interesting is the ‘anticipatory’ adaptations parties go through once they have formulated government participation as an important party goal. Until now, scholars have felt that Green parties are transforming, but they have not been able to point at the core of the changes that have taken place. Organizational and ideological changes have been investigated separately, whereas in the case of Green parties organi- zation and ideology are closely interrelated. In this thesis it is argued that the external political ap- proach of GroenLinks, which used to be a typical New Left Green party but that lacks governmental experience, has become more professional, due to initiatives of various within-party actors who of- ten responded to developments outside the party. -
Electoral Processes in the Mediterranean
Electoral Processes Electoral processes in the Mediterranean This chapter provides information on jority party if it does not manage to Gorazd Drevensek the results of the presidential and leg- obtain an absolute majority in the (New Slovenia Christian Appendices islative elections held between July Chamber. People’s Party, Christian Democrat) 0.9 - 2002 and June 2003. Jure Jurèek Cekuta 0.5 - Parties % Seats Participation: 71.3 % (1st round); 65.2 % (2nd round). Monaco Nationalist Party (PN, conservative) 51.8 35 Legislative elections 2003 Malta Labour Party (MLP, social democrat) 47.5 30 9th February 2003 Bosnia and Herzegovina Med. Previous elections: 1st and 8th Februa- Democratic Alternative (AD, ecologist) 0.7 - ry 1998 Federal parliamentary republic that Parliamentary monarchy with unicam- Participation: 96.2 %. became independent from Yugoslavia eral legislative: the National Council. in 1991, and is formed by two enti- The twenty-four seats of the chamber ties: the Bosnia and Herzegovina Fed- Slovenia are elected for a five-year term; sixteen eration, known as the Croat-Muslim Presidential elections by simple majority and eight through Federation, and the Srpska Republic. 302-303 proportional representation. The voters go to the polls to elect the 10th November 2002 Presidency and the forty-two mem- Previous elections: 24th November bers of the Chamber of Representa- Parties % Seats 1997 tives. Simultaneously, the two entities Union for Monaco (UPM) 58.5 21 Parliamentary republic that became elect their own legislative bodies and National Union for the Future of Monaco (UNAM) independent from Yugoslavia in 1991. the Srpska Republic elects its Presi- Union for the Monegasque Two rounds of elections are held to dent and Vice-President. -
Emi Board Elections 2021-2023 Final List of Candidates
EMI BOARD ELECTIONS 2021-2023 FINAL LIST OF CANDIDATES PRESIDENT Eva MAYDELL, MEP nominated by: European People’s Party (EPP), Association des États Généraux des Étudiants de l’Europe (AEGEE-Europe), Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE Party), EM Croatia, EM France, EM Germany, EM Italy, European Youth Forum (EYF), Party of European Socialists (PES) TREASURER Maria HEIDER, nominated by: European Environmental Bureau (EBB), EM Ireland, EM Serbia, European Green Party (EGP) Nataša OWENS, nominated by: EM Croatia, EM Germany, EM North Macedonia, EM France, European People’s Party (EPP), Europäischer Verband Beruflicher Bildungsträger e.V. European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB), Party of European Socialists (PES) VICE PRESIDENTS (NATIONAL COUNCILS) Francisco, ALDECOA LUZARRAGA nominated by: EM Spain, EM Croatia, EM Italy Yves, BERTONCINI, nominated by: EM Denmark, EM Croatia, EM France, EM Germany, EM Italy Christine BOSSE, nominated by: EM Croatia, EM Denmark, EM Finland, EM France, EM Germany, EM Ireland, EM Norway Tobias KÖCK, nominated by: EM Croatia, EM Denmark, EM Finland, EM France, EM Germany, EM Serbia, European Youth Forum (EYF) Noelle O’CONNELL, nominated by: EM Finland, EM Serbia, EM Ireland, EM United Kingdom European Movement International Place du Luxembourg 2 | B-1050 Brussels | T +32 (0)2 508 30 88 www.europeanmovement.eu | [email protected] Democracy | Freedom | Solidarity | Unity | Equality VICE PRESIDENTS (INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS) Brando BENIFEI, MEP nominated -
1. EGP Recommendation Letter URA Montenegro
Civic Movement URA (United Reform Action) Application for EGP Membership EGP Committee Recommendation Letter General Introduction The European Green Party (EGP) conducted a study visit in August 2019 and a fact-finding mission in early March 2020, as part of the application process of Montenegrin political party URA (United Reform Action). URA has officially applied for EGP membership in October 2019. The EGP has been in contact with URA since 2018. Since then, their party leader attended the Council in Berlin (Germany) in November 2018. After their application, a delegation was invited to the following Council in Tampere (Finland) in November 2019. In August 2019, the study visit included meetings with different structures of URA, activists from NGOs and civil society, supporting citizens movements and struggles with several cases of environmental destruction. The visit showed that URA is a well-established party, respected and in cooperation with civil society, and with a potential to grow. In March 2020, the EGP delegation to Montenegro was made up of Thomas Waitz (Co-Chair), Mar Garcia (Secretary General) and Mélanie Vogel (Member of the Committee responsible for Montenegro). This mission included meetings with the central leadership and Political and Advisory board of URA, their Youth and Women Forum, several local councillors and the local board in Budva. Other meetings were organized with EU Ambassador Orav Aivo and German Ambassador Robert Weber, NGOs Hocu da ostanem and Kor - Coalition for Sustainable Development, LGBT Forum Progress, the chief editor of Balkan Insight, and a Professor of International Environmental and Private Law at the State Law university. -
Sandzak – a Region That Is Connecting Or Dividing Serbia and Montenegro?
SANDZAK – A REGION THAT IS CONNECTING OR DIVIDING SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO? Sandzak is a region that is divided among Serbia and Montenegro. Six municipalities are in Serbia (Novi Pazar, Sjenica, Tutin, Prijepolje, Priboj and Nova Varoš) and six in Montenegro (Bijelo Polje, Rožaje, Berane, Pljevlja, Gusinje and Plav). On the basis of the 1991 census the number of the inhabitants of Sandzak included 420.000 people – 278.000 in Serbia and 162.000 in Montenegro, of which 54% are Muslims by ethnicity. Sandzak, which is carrying its name after a Turkish word for a military district, constituted a part of the Bosnian Pashalik within the Ottoman Empire until the year 1878. On the Berlin Congress, which was held at the same year, the great powers decided to leave Sandzak within the framework of the Ottoman Empire, but have allowed Austro- Hungary to deploy their forces in a part of this region. Through an agreement between the kings of Serbia Peter I. Karadjordjevic and of Montenegro Nikola I. Petrovic, but thanks to Russia, Serbia and Montenegro took control over Sandzak in the First Balkan War of 1912. Up to the Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913, Sandzak represented a separate administrative unit with the administration and cultural center being in Novi Pazar. After the end of the Balkan Wars the process of emigration of the Bosniac population to Turkey continued and through the port of Bar left for Turkey in the period between April and June 1914 some 16.500 Bosniacs from the Montenegrin part of Sandzak and some 40.000 from the Serbian part. -
The Montenegrin Political Landscape: the End of Political Stability? by Milena Milosevic, Podgorica-Based Journalist Dr
ELIAMEP Briefing Notes 27 /2012 July 2012 The Montenegrin political landscape: The end of political stability? by Milena Milosevic, Podgorica-based journalist Dr. Ioannis Armakolas, “Stavros Costopoulos” Research Fellow, ELIAMEP, Greece The recent start of accession negotiations between the European Commission and Montenegro came against the background of the ever perplexing politics in this Western Balkan country. The minor coalition partner in the ruling government – the Social Democratic Party (SDP) - announced the possibility that it will run in the elections independently from the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the successor of the Communist Party and the party of former Montenegrin leader Milo Djukanovic. SDP and DPS have been in coalition in the national government continuously since 1998. In contast, opposition parties are traditionally perceived as weak and incapable of convincing voters that they can provide a genuine alternative to DPS-led governments. However, at the beginning of July, news of two opposition parties trying to unite all anti-government forces, with the help of the country’s former foreign minister Miodrag Lekic, once again heated up the debate over the opposition’s strength. At about the same time, news concerning the formation of new parties have also dominated the headlines in the local press. Most of the attention is on “Positive Montenegro“, a newly-formed party whose name essentially illustrates its platform: positive change in the society burdened by past mistakes and divisions. The ambivalent context within which the contours of the current Montenegrin political landscape are being drawn further complicates this puzzle. On one hand, the country’s foreign policy and relations with its neigbours are continuously praised by the international community. -
Session Report
31st SESSION Strasbourg, 19-21 October 2016 CG31(2016)21 19 October 2016 Information report on the observation of local and provincial elections in Serbia (24 April 2016) Monitoring Committee Rapporteur1: Karim VAN OVERMEIRE, Belgium (R, NR) Summary Further to an invitation by the Republic Electoral Commission of Serbia, the Congress’ Bureau decided to deploy a limited Electoral Assessment Mission in order to monitor the local and provincial elections organised on 24 April 2016. The early Parliamentary elections held on the same day in Serbia were observed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The present information report reflects the key findings of the 12-member delegation based on in- depth briefings in Belgrade and Novi Sad prior to the E-Day and on observations made by six Congress teams in more than 120 polling stations throughout the country, with a special attention to the organisation of the regional elections in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and the vote organised for the Municipal Councils. Apart from isolated irregularities, the elections were carried out in a calm and orderly manner, largely in line with European electoral standards. However, the Congress’ delegation found that there was room for improvement of the practical side of the elections, notably regarding the protection of the secrecy of the vote and the level of professionalism of the electoral administration. In particular, the extended composition of polling boards led to difficulties in managing different aspects of the electoral process including the vote count. At the same time, the Congress supports a genuine reform in order to complement the legal framework of elections focusing on issues such as party and campaign financing, misuse of administrative resources, the quality of the voters’ lists, candidates’ registration and the minority status of political parties. -
When the Political Elite Underestimate Citizens - Parliamentary Elections in Montenegro
ANALYSIS FRIEDRICH-EBERT-STIFTUNG - When the political elite underestimate citizens - Parliamentary elections in Montenegro DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS Before the parliamentary elections in Montenegro, the CCE and the FES presented the findings of the public opinion research on numerous WHEN THE social and political issues that shape the attitude towards POLITICAL ELITE the election offer. The research aim was to put into focus citizens and their UNDERESTIMATE attitudes that could have been useful to election participants in formulating election campaigns, CITIZENS but which remain instructive in the coming period, as well. Parliamentary elections in Montenegro Citizens of Montenegro are Zoran Stoiljković, Miloš Vukanović, tired of the firm leaders. Daliborka Uljarević (ed.) They want democratic, September 2020 participatory leadership that will look for responses to the challenges through dialogue and compromise within strong institutions. This is almost a revolutionary change and a message political elites in Montenegro must understand. 1 DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS WHEN THE POLITICAL ELITE UNDERESTIMATE CITIZENS Parliamentary elections in Montenegro FRIEDRICH-EBERT-STIFTUNG - When the political elite underestimate citizens - Parliamentary elections in Montenegro Table of contents Summary 4 INTRODUCTION 5 WHAT SHAPES MONTENEGRIN POLITICS? 6 Election messages and lessons of the citizens of Montenegro 6 Trust as a source of political power 6 Social problems and priorities 7 MONTENEGRO’S DEMAND: MORE JUSTICE AND EQUALITY 8 Fatigue from the