MontenegroThe final results of the Montenegrin presidential elections are analyzed by Drasko Djuranovic in the October 24, 1997 issue of the Podgorica weekly "Monitor".
Although it cannot be said that Djukanovic's victory in the presidential elections was a convincing one, along with the unreserved support of the Montenegrin democratic opposition, his empire has still stricken back. That is, Bulatovic entered the decisive battle with an important advantage: he had some 2000 reserve votes, and he has rightly counted on some 10,000 more votes of the "Serbian block" presidential candidates.
But, Djukanovic was able to win some 30,000 new votes in the second round. There are three reasons for Djukanovic's sudden surge. After the failure in the first round, the Montenegrin prime minister introduced a new order in his electoral team. Instead of a glamorous campaign, they started working with local activists and citizens, with the tried and true communist method "door to door". According to reliable information, within only ten days all regions of Montenegro were rounded, while intensive work was noticed in the suburban areas in the North of Montenegro. The results say that in that manner, Djukanovic was able to win over a certain number of suburban voters and in the rural region.
Besides the obvious work on the ground, it was the TV duels that motivated the citizens to go to the ballot boxes. Bulatovic's nationalistic messages, discrimination of Muslims, Albanians and Croats, the undoubtful ties to Milosevic, but also implications of his family in criminal activities, have completely de - masked for the part of the population the man who until recently presented himself as the president of all citizens of Montenegro. Xenophobic ideas have probably not diverted Bulatovic's devoted disciples, but have forced numerous young people to resist the downgrading of Montenegro, and to consider these elections as 'fateful' for their future.
It seems though, that this time it was the open support of the oppositionary leaders that has tipped the scales, which gave Djukanovic the decisive votes. It was particularly the explicit support of the LSCG party leader that had its effect: in Cetinje and all other municipalities where the Liberals are influential, Djukanovic considerably improved his initial result.
Besides that, in the fervor of the confrontation against Bulatovic, the Montenegrin government have done another job important for the future of Montenegro: that is bringing the order in the evidence, that is, the lists of voters. The Supreme court received more than 13,000 requests of those that had the right to vote, or who have been previously removed from the list of the living. In the meantime, those who have long gone have been removed from the lists of voters. When the lists were finally compared - it turned out that the voting base has been enlarged for some 7,805, mainly young voters.
All information lead to the conclusion that only during these elections were minimal democratic conditions created in Montenegro . While the DPS was unified, while they had absolute power, the leaders of the ruling party could infinitely manipulate with the voting lists. Maybe this is the greatest heritage of the just concluded elections.
The defeat of Bulatovic, Milosevic's stooge and mouthpiece for Montenegro will undoubtedly change the balance of power in Montenegro and the Federation. For the first time since 1989, Milosevic did not succeed in his intention to install a man who will be infinitely loyal to him. It was shown for the first time that in Montenegro, on this occasion, it was more important to have the support of the complete Montenegrin opposition, than of Milosevic and Seselj.
At the same time, Bulatovic's defeat is total. He played on all or nothing this time and he came out with - nothing. A close defeat burns much more, and it is completely 'understndable' that he has no intention of accepting the result. If it is any consolation for him, he will enter the history books: Momir Bulatovic is the first president in all six republics of former SFRY that has been deposed from power.
The shadow of Bulatovic?s defeat is dangerously hovering over Milosevic. Previously, the leader of celestial people, following the 'domino syndrome' brough down the regime in Montenegro. Now, a decade later, the same syndrome is threatening him. With Djukanovic's victory, Milosevic is definitively losing the last control lever over Montenegro. The Belgrade dictator is now strikingly bare: he has no majority in Serbia, now in Montenegro too; he cannot rule Serbia by decree, now he will not be able to do that in Montenegro. Milosevic and his wife, after the Montenegrin 'no' look infinitely isolated. And just because of the fact that he is losing the levers of his power, Milosevic is most dangerous. He will try everything through his cronies to completely destabilize Montenegro.
Source: Podgorica weekly "Monitor" October 24, 1997
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