Garčević Publishes Op-Ed on Montenegrin Elections
Ambassador Vesko Garčević, Professor of the Practice of International Relations at the Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, published an op-ed in New Europe discussing the recent parliamentary elections in Montenegro in which the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists lost the majority in the Parliament for the first time in the last 30 years.
In the article, Garčević discusses Montenegrins’ desire for change in this election, the major players involved, what this means for democracy in the region, and what the future holds. While the recent election presents an opportunity for growth and positive change in Montenegro, Garčević notes that the new government must act fast to secure fair elections for the future or they risk repeating mistakes of the past.
An excerpt:
The results of the elections have opened a space for a change. A shift can be positive, but it can be a setback. The experiences of the region, particularly in Serbia, teaches us that regime change is not always a change for better. Montenegro has two ways ahead – it can either form an interim government of experts tasked with the preparations of new elections in the foreseeable future, possibly in the second half of 2021; or enter a period of political instability that will lead to early elections, but in a more charged political environment.
The full op-ed can be read here.
During his diplomatic career, Ambassador Vesko Garčević dealt with issues pertinent to European security and NATO for almost 14 years. In 2004, he was posted in Vienna to serve as Ambassador to Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. He had been a Montenegro’s Ambassador to NATO from 2010 until 2014 and served as a Montenegro’s National Coordinator for NATO from 2015 until he joined the faculty at the Pardee School. Learn more about him here.