Milo Đukanović
President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Milo Đukanović (Montenegrin Cyrillic: Мило Ђукановић, pronounced [mǐːlo dʑǔkanoʋitɕ] ⓘ; born 15 February 1962) is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023, previously serving in the role from 1998 to 2002. He also served as the Prime Minister of Montenegro (1991–1998, 2003–2006, 2008–2010 and 2012–2016) and was the long-term president of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, originally the Montenegrin branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which governed Montenegro alone or in a coalition from the introduction of multi-party politics in the early 1990s until its defeat in the 2020 parliamentary election. He is the longest-ruling contemporary politician in Europe, having held key positions in the country for over 33 years. However, he was defeated by the 36-year-old centrist former economy minister, Jakov Milatović, after the presidential run-off held on 2 April 2023.
This article needs to be updated. (May 2023) |
Milo Đukanović | |
---|---|
Мило Ђукановић | |
2nd President of Montenegro | |
In office 20 May 2018 – 20 May 2023 | |
Prime Minister | Duško Marković Zdravko Krivokapić Dritan Abazović |
Preceded by | Filip Vujanović |
Succeeded by | Jakov Milatović |
2nd President of the Republic of Montenegro | |
In office 15 January 1998 – 25 November 2002 | |
Prime Minister | Filip Vujanović |
President of Serbia and Montenegro | Slobodan Milošević Vojislav Koštunica |
Preceded by | Momir Bulatović |
Succeeded by | Filip Vujanović |
Prime Minister of Montenegro | |
In office 4 December 2012 – 28 November 2016 | |
President | Filip Vujanović |
Preceded by | Igor Lukšić |
Succeeded by | Duško Marković |
In office 29 February 2008 – 29 December 2010 | |
President | Filip Vujanović |
Preceded by | Željko Šturanović |
Succeeded by | Igor Lukšić |
In office 8 January 2003 – 10 November 2006 | |
President | Filip Vujanović Dragan Kujović Filip Vujanović |
Preceded by | Dragan Đurović (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Željko Šturanović |
In office 15 February 1991 – 5 February 1998 | |
President | Momir Bulatović |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Filip Vujanović |
Minister of Defence | |
In office 5 June 2006 – 10 November 2006 | |
Prime Minister | Himself |
Preceded by | Position established |
Succeeded by | Boro Vučinić |
President of the DPS | |
In office 31 October 1998 – 6 April 2023 | |
Preceded by | Milica Pejanović-Đurišić |
Succeeded by | Danijel Živković |
Personal details | |
Born | (1962-02-15) 15 February 1962 (age 62) Nikšić, PR Montenegro, FPR Yugoslavia |
Political party | DPS (since 1991) |
Other political affiliations | ECG (1998–2016) SKJ (1979–1991) |
Height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in)[1] |
Spouse | Lidija Kuč |
Children | 1 |
Relatives | Aco Đukanović (brother) |
Alma mater | Veljko Vlahović University |
When Đukanović first emerged on the political scene, he was a close ally of Slobodan Milošević during the anti-bureaucratic revolution (1988–1989) and the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia (1991–1992).[2] His cabinet actively participated in the siege of Dubrovnik (1991–1992). Đukanović supported Momir Bulatović's agreement on Lord Carrington's terms, which resulted in the 1992 Montenegrin independence referendum, where voters decided to remain in FR Yugoslavia. In 1996, however, Đukanović distanced himself from Milošević and the federal government, abandoning the traditional joint Serbian and Montenegrin vision in favour of Montenegrin nationalism, which supported state independence and a separate Montenegrin identity. That led to the division of the party and the split of Bulatović's pro-unionist faction. Shortly afterward, Đukanović defeated Bulatović in the 1997 presidential election by a thin margin. In 1999, he negotiated with Western countries in an attempt to limit airstrikes in Montenegro during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, while later Đukanović oversaw the implementation of the Deutsche Mark as the new currency in Montenegro, replacing the Yugoslav dinar.
Following the overthrow of Milošević (2000), he signed an agreement with the new Serbian government that led to the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro (2003), which allowed for Montenegrin independence. Three years later, the 2006 independence referendum led to a formal separation from the state union and the proclamation of the new Constitution of Montenegro (2007). Đukanović has pursued NATO and EU accession policy, resulting in Montenegro's NATO membership in 2017. Over the course of his premiership and presidency, he oversaw the privatization of public companies to foreign investors and firms.[3] Several corruption scandals of the ruling party triggered 2019 anti-government protests, while a controversial religion law sparked another wave of protests. For the first time in three decades, in the 2020 parliamentary election, the opposition won more votes than Đukanović's ruling party and its partners.
Some observers have described Đukanović's rule as authoritarian or autocratic, as well as a kleptocracy.[4] His brother Aco Đukanović, the owner of Montenegro's first private bank, had the upper hand in privatisations, while his sister, the lawyer Ana Kolarevic, controlled the judiciary for a long time. DPS clientelist networks dominated all segments of social life, making party membership necessary to start a business or obtain a position in the administration.[5] In 2020, the Freedom House classified Montenegro as a hybrid regime rather than a democracy, mentioning the years of increasing state capture, abuse of power, and strongman tactics employed by Đukanović. He is often described as having strong links to the Montenegrin mafia.[6] Đukanović was listed among the twenty richest world leaders according to the British newspaper The Independent in May 2010, which described the source of his estimated £10 million wealth as "mysterious".[7] In October 2021, Đukanović and his son Blažo were mentioned in Pandora Papers, linking them to two trusts on British Virgin Islands.[8][9][10]