Parties where underdeveloped democratic practices view dissenters as unwelcome are destined for internal turmoil.

This perspective is shared by assistant professor at the University of “Donja Gorica,” Nikoleta Djukanovic, who discussed the reasons behind the frequent tensions in the Socialist People’s Party (SNP) with “Vijesti.” The SNP has endured multiple crises and splits since its inception in 1998.

Recently, disagreements surfaced ahead of the SNP congress intended to elect a new party leader. “Vijesti” reported, based on insights from a source who attended the SNP’s Main Board (GO) meeting on Friday, that conflicts and confrontations arose among members, and the session was only able to continue after intervention from certain SNP officials who advocated for calming tensions.

Another source noted that while there were “arguments,” it was not a “disastrous drama.”

“(President of the SNP Vladimir) Jokovic…” commented at the session’s conclusion, provoking members who criticized his leadership. Discussions indicated that the upcoming congress should not take place in Podgorica, be closed to the public, and limit the number of delegates,” said the source.

Joković informed “Vijesti” that while there was a “verbal exchange” during the session, no physical altercations occurred. He stated that the meeting was unfolding normally until remarks from someone on fake social media profiles triggered a response from other Governing Body members, leading to an “exchange of words.”

The race for the SNP leadership has seen an announcement from vice president Dragoslav Šcekić. Joković, who received approval from the SNP Statutory Commission in early April to pursue a third term, has not ruled out facing Šcekić as an opponent.

Regarding the severity of the disputes within the SNP and their underlying causes, Nikoleta Đukanović attributes them to the three-decade dominance of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) from which the SNP originated. She highlighted that in 2006, there were 13 opposition parties in the parliament, reducing to nine a decade later, with internal conflicts often precipitating splits that sometimes resulted in the complete dissolution of parties but also led to the emergence of new, stronger political forces.

“Montenegrin parties are marked by a structured hierarchy and robust infrastructure. Authoritarian organizations, lacking developed democratic frameworks for member selection, frequently regard dissenters as threats. However, significant support for these dissenters can lead to splits. Consequently, the SNP has struggled to reform and align with the evolving demands for party system consolidation and overall democratization,” Đukanović observed.

Since its establishment, the SNP has faced multiple splits, transforming from a once-dominant parliamentary opposition faction to having only two representatives in the current parliament.

The party emerged following a split in the DPS, driven by the dispute between Momir Bulatović (then President of Montenegro) and Milo Đukanović (then Prime Minister) over relations with the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia and its leader Slobodan Milošević. The SNP was founded by Bulatović’s faction.

The initial split occurred in 2001 when the party’s leadership failed to back Bulatović’s bid for federal prime minister. Consequently, SNP was taken over by Predrag Bulatović, as some officials allied with Bulatović left to form the People’s Socialist Party.

Following the 2006 referendum that reinstated Montenegro’s statehood, the SNP entered a serious political crisis, resulting in decreased influence. Bulatović resigned as party president due to poor performance in the post-referendum national elections, and Srdjan Milic was elected as his successor, serving the longest term of 11 years.

In mid-2012, internal divisions re-emerged concerning the party’s potential integration into the newly formed Democratic Front (DF), which included the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) and the Movement for Change (PZP). Dissent within the SNP led to a split, with the group led by Predrag Bulatović and Milan Knezevic founding the Democratic People’s Party in 2014.

At the end of 2014, further divisions arose during a party congress. Milić was re-elected president but received only a third of the votes. Aleksa Bečić initiated a split in early 2015, forming a new party called the Democrats with his supporters.

Another crisis occurred in early 2017 due to dissatisfaction with Milić’s leadership. In response, Milić stepped down, paving the way for Joković’s election as the new president on August 13, 2017.

By April 2018, prominent SNP member Snežana Ionica, along with 37 other Main Committee members, departed from the party.

In 2022, the SNP joined a minority government led by Dritan Abazović, formed with DPS support, prompting further internal discord but avoiding a formal split.

In May 2023, key figures including Danijela Đurović (then Speaker of Parliament), Marko Kovač (then Minister of Justice), and Miomir Vojinović (then Minister of Education) left the SNP. Unofficial reports suggested their resignations stemmed from “deep and insurmountable differences with the SNP leadership regarding the party’s strategic direction,” which was perceived as veering to the right and harming the party’s civic image.

The SNP contested the 2023 parliamentary elections in a coalition with Demos, receiving 3.13 percent of the vote, just above the threshold.

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