Last week, some members of the General Committee (GO) from the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES) called for the removal of the party’s executive director and secretary general, Vlada Bojović and Boris Pejović, due to dissatisfaction with their performance, according to unofficial sources from “Vijesti.”

The source indicates that this demand was voiced on Thursday by certain PES members from northern regions during a GO session in Podgorica. They voiced concerns about the party’s poor performance in recent local elections (Nikšić, Budva, Podgorica…), the slow development of party infrastructure, and the absence of committees in most municipalities, as well as issues surrounding personnel policies within the Government.

The source adds that the northern membership holds Bojović and Pejović accountable for these issues, particularly targeting the executive director.

Prior to the GO meeting, there were informal speculations within PES that the proposal to dismiss Bojović and Pejović would be discussed, though the agenda on Thursday ultimately featured an item termed “intra-party consultations.”

According to the “Vijesti” source, the session ended up being contentious, preventing the adoption of the agenda, meaning the meeting technically did not occur.

Unofficial reports suggest a heated disagreement during the session between PES MP Jelena Nedović and party leader and Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, leading to Spajić’s exit from the meeting. Another PES source, however, describes it as a “hectic discussion,” stating that Spajić indicated he couldn’t remain for long.

When asked about the dispute, Nedović told “Vijesti” that “there was nothing” and labeled it as “internal party issues.”

PES also responded to inquiries, denying any arguments or resignation requests and stating, “PES maintains intra-party communication based on the dynamics of our activities and political developments. Like any party, PES reserves the right not to publicly disclose details of these communications, but will inform the public of any decisions made promptly. There have been no arguments or requests for resignations.”

As per the PES Statute, the General Assembly has the authority to elect and dismiss the executive director and secretary general upon the party leader’s proposal.

An unnamed PES source claims that several members suggested that Nemanja Laković, the executive director of the Pljevlja Coal Mine and considered an ally of Spajić, should replace Pejović. There are also calls from northern members for greater representation within the party’s structures. They reportedly have issues with Ranko Krivokapić, the former parliament head and honorary president of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), for now working as Minister-Counselor at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Speculation regarding Bojović’s potential dismissal arose last fall after the local elections in Podgorica at the end of September, where PES garnered just over 17 votes in coalition with the Democrats. In contrast, during the early parliamentary elections in June 2023, Spajić’s party received about 27,620 votes in Podgorica with smaller coalition partners—nearly ten thousand more.

PES’s performance in local elections has been lackluster, notably receiving only 5,188 votes (five mandates) in Nikšić on April 13 this year. The party notably skipped the 2021 Nikšić elections but garnered significantly more support, approximately 4,400 votes, in national elections two years later compared to recent local elections.

PES was established in June 2022 by Spajić and the current President of Montenegro Jakov Milatović shortly after the downfall of the so-called expert government led by Zdravko Krivokapić, where both served. Milatović won the presidential elections in 2023, and PES claimed victory in parliamentary elections, gaining control in several cities, including Podgorica. However, conflicts arose soon after between the president and the prime minister, leading Milatović to resign from all party roles in February, taking some membership with him. Members close to Milatović from the Podgorica PES board also resigned, subsequently running in local elections in September as the Movement for Podgorica, in coalition with the Civic Movement URA and the Movement for Change.

Though publicly denying it for an extended period, their disagreements began in February 2023, when Spajić announced his candidacy for head of state, a bid he lost due to revelations of his dual Montenegrin-Serbian citizenship, which he later renounced.

In April 2023, without Milatović, the PES General Assembly decided that the party would independently contest the national elections, advocating Spajić’s preference, in contrast to Milatović’s desire for a broader coalition.

Disagreements continued over the electoral list ahead of the parliamentary elections, and subsequently, Milatović critiqued the new Government’s composition from his presidential position, along with issues in the diplomatic network and various draft laws.

He invited Spajić to a meeting late last year, but specifics from that encounter remain undisclosed.

In a New Year’s interview with “Vijesti,” Milatović didn’t rule out the potential for the Movement for Podgorica evolving into a state-level party or his possible return to PES, although he stated that it was not his “primary” focus at the moment, nor had he discussed such matters with the Prime Minister.

A period of calm followed, though Milatović started again to critique PES, primarily due to two agreements between the government and the United Arab Emirates that promised “the largest investment in the history of the state.”

What are the powers of the Executive Director and Secretary General of PES?

According to the PES Statute, the executive director serves a four-year term and presides over the party’s executive board.

His responsibilities include establishing and terminating employment relationships, managing PES assets, overseeing the party’s material and financial operations, drafting and proposing the financial plan for the upcoming year to the Executive Board, and approving the establishment of municipal board seals.

The Secretary General likewise serves a four-year term but can be re-elected. His duties involve organizational strengthening of PES, building its infrastructure network, coordinating the formation of local committees, maintaining regular communication with municipal organizations to broaden the party’s organizational reach, and participating in the planning and execution of election and field campaigns.

Note: The original version mistakenly indicated that the PES membership proposed Nemanja Laković to replace Bojović instead of Pejović.

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