The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) has wisely abandoned the notion that the state should establish a church and that national identity should be imposed through the party state. Their previous attempts in this regard have failed, indicating that others are unlikely to succeed as well.

This perspective was shared by political analyst Sergej Sekulovic, who responded to inquiries about the significance of the DPS’s commitment to defending the civic identity of Montenegro in its new program, as well as the evolution of the party’s political narratives pre- and post-2020 elections.

In the program set to be ratified at today’s congress, the DPS emphasizes defending Montenegro’s civic character and cautions against “ethnofederalization” efforts from neighboring countries. In contrast to the current program, the new draft notably omits references to the “independent Orthodox Church” of Montenegrin believers.

“Montenegro’s identities are deeply embedded in historical processes and exhibit resilience. Politics should align with this reality. Dominant identity politics should be set aside. The emphasis should instead be on bolstering institutions and fostering an environment of equal opportunities that is inclusive while honoring its identity,” Sekulović stated.

In its draft program, the DPS puts a strong focus on preserving cultural, historical, and sacred heritage, alongside a push for the restitution of property to the Montenegrin state.

“The idea of ethno-federalization in Montenegro, which has emerged in regions that have never accepted Montenegro’s independence, is being fueled by local facilitators. It threatens the cultural, historical, and sacred heritage and aims to assimilate the identity of national Montenegrins, ultimately undermining civil society. Montenegro’s existence as a state of its people is at risk; by acquiescing to such notions, it legitimizes itself as a target for nationalist agendas from surrounding areas,” the draft highlights.

Sekulović mentioned the potential disintegration of Montenegro as a pressing concern.

“Centrifugal forces have intensified, and we face the challenge of addressing this issue. Censuses indicate that a new Montenegrin state cannot adhere to outdated national concepts typical of the 19th century; it must embrace a civic identity, which, if successful, could yield substantial benefits—yet poses risks if political and social leaders are hesitant or incapable of nurturing it,” Sekulović assessed.

He noted that the threat of ethnofederalism arises from both external and internal factors.

“This is likely our most critical challenge,” Sekulović remarked.

CIVIC AND NATIONALIST RHETORIC

Civic activist Stefan Djukic asserted that the DPS has long branded itself as a “civic party,” with support from allies in the media and civil sector.

“Despite failing to embody civic principles, they managed to maintain a civic label. However, as nationalist rhetoric has intensified, fewer people now perceive them as ‘civic’,” Djukic noted.

He indicated that with the new program and a potentially real or imagined crisis, the DPS seems to be attempting a rebranding as defenders of civic identity.

“Unfortunately, it’s challenging to define ‘civil’ in Montenegro, making it unclear what exactly requires defense. This is a separate discussion,” Djukic added.

Sekulović emphasized that establishing a functional civic state necessitates a sincere approach. This means prioritizing diversity and meritocracy over partisan politics, as well as valuing knowledge over quotas.

“If the DPS recognizes this need, it will benefit both them and Montenegrin society. If not, it will soon be evident that this is merely a political tactic. Concrete actions are essential,” Sekulović cautioned.

On a political scale, Sekulović noted that the DPS is likely seeking to enhance its coalition-building potential.

“They aim to bridge the gap with citizens identifying as Serbs. The outcome of this endeavor remains to be seen,” Sekulović stated.

Djukic observed that he has not noticed significant changes in the DPS narrative.

“They appear to be sidestepping issues that have cost them voter support, yet whenever a national topic arises, the DPS invariably adopts a nationally charged position, making substantial change seem elusive,” Djukic remarked.

He added that the DPS seems unprepared to undergo the necessary transformation to broaden its coalition potential, as evidenced by the appointment of an “honorary president,” Milo Djukanovic, and their reluctance to denounce individuals with corruption allegations.

“All these matters are interconnected,” Djukic pointed out.

EQUALITY OF RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES AND SECULARISM

It has been announced that Djukanović will be named honorary president at the congress today.

The new DPS program pledges to promote equality among all religious communities while enhancing secularism:

“We will advocate for the restitution of the alienated Montenegrin cultural, historical, and sacred heritage. Our commitment extends to protecting the religious rights and freedoms of all citizens, including those religious organizations denied access to worship and utilize religious sites located in Montenegro.”

Census data indicates that the contemporary Montenegrin state cannot be constructed upon outdated national concepts typical of the 19th century; rather, it must develop its identity as a civic state, observes Sergej Sekulović.

In its 2021 program, the DPS criticized the Serbian Orthodox Church for its political interference and denial of Montenegrin identity, asserting that the “exploitation of religious sentiments” by the SPC led to assaults on the fundamental values of contemporary Montenegro.

The DPS’s loss of power was significantly influenced by the mass gatherings organized by the Metropolitanate of Montenegro and the Littoral SPC following the adoption of the Law on Freedom of Religion in December 2019, as it included provisions related to church property that were later removed after the government shift a year later.

“We regard the right of Montenegrin believers to establish an independent Orthodox church on Montenegrin soil as an integral part of the historical rights we will diligently, respectfully, and thoughtfully advocate for, in accordance with the principles of global Orthodoxy. Concurrently, we will use all legal means to reclaim sacred properties that belonged to the state of Montenegro prior to its involuntary dissolution in 1918,” states the former program.

This particular section has been omitted from the draft of the new program.

The new document highlights the political ramifications following the 2020 government transition and underscores the importance of “restoring state dignity.”

DPS President Danijel Zivkovic, in an interview with “Vijesti” published yesterday, addressed the absence of mentions regarding an independent Orthodox Church in the new draft. When asked if this signals a reduced focus on church issues, he stated:

“DPS continuously supports the equality of all religious communities and the equal religious freedoms of all citizens, independent of their religious affiliation. This remains a cornerstone of our political actions. Any other details are mere linguistic nuances; the essence, however, remains unchanged.”