Movement for Changes

For other topics with similar names, see Movement for Change (disambiguation).
Movement for Changes
Pokret za promjene
Покрет за промјене
Leader Nebojša Medojević
Founded 2002 (as an NGO)
2006 (as a party)
Headquarters Podgorica
Ideology Liberal conservatism[1]
Political position Centre-right
National affiliation Democratic Front
European affiliation Alliance of Conservatives and Reformists in Europe
International affiliation International Democrat Union
Colours Light blue, yellow
Parliament
5 / 81
Website
http://www.promjene.org

Movement for Changes (Montenegrin: Покрет за Промјене, Pokret za Promjene, or PzP) is a liberal-conservative[2] political party in Montenegro which has as a proclaimed goal the integration of their country into the European Union and political and economic reforms to bring it into line with European norms. It was founded by a group of economists and academics in September 2002 and modeled after the Group 17 Plus in Serbia[2] and is led by Nebojša Medojević. It operated as a non-governmental organization under the name Group for Changes (Grupa za promjene) until July 17, 2006, when it reconstituted itself as a political party.[3]

The party, like its NGO predecessor, advocates as part a reform agenda change in the "undemocratic regime of the Democratic Party of Socialists" the party that has ruled Montenegro as the dominant partner in every coalition government since the end of communism, and the "dethroning" of multiple-term Prime-Minister and President Milo Đukanović.

In the 2006 Montenegrin independence referendum, PzP remained neutral and did not campaign for either option, their choice being an outcome without the Movement's involvement. Although prominent members of the party supported an independent Montenegrin state, they refused to join the Bloc for an Independent Montenegro, led by the DPS. After the referendum, they stated that they did so out of opposition to Đukanović's rule, which they see as corrupt and undemocratic. This is, however a matter of controversy, as the Movement has maintained close ties with the Together for Change Serbian-unionist bloc.

In the 2006 parliamentary election, the party ran for the first time, winning 11 of 81 seats. It became a vocal opposition party and forged links with the Serb People's Party and the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro in an attempt to unify the country's political opposition.

The party put forward amendments as part of the drafting process for the new Constitution of Montenegro, including the suggestion of official language status for the Serbian language alongside the existing proposal to declare Montenegrin the state language. The proposal was adopted by the ruling coalition, and PzP gave its support for the required two-thirds super-majority to adopt the Constitution. This support damaged its ties with other opposition parties to some extent. The presence of senior officials of Movement for Changes at protests against Montenegrin recognition of Kosovo, in turn alienated some Albanian supporters of the Movement.

The party saw a fall in support at the 2009 parliamentary election, falling from 11 seats to 5.

The Movement for Changes leader, Nebojša Medojević, was a candidate in the 2008 presidential election. He came in third, gathering nearly 17% of the vote.

PzP joined the Alliance of European Conservatives and Reformists in May 2015.[4]

Parliamentary elections

Parliament of Montenegro
Year Popular vote % of popular vote Overall seats won Seat change Alliance Government
2006 44,483 13.13%
11 / 81
 Increase 11 — opposition
2009 49,546 6.0%
5 / 81
 Decrease 6 — opposition
2012 82,773 22.82%
5 / 81
 Steady DF opposition
2016 77,784 20.32%
5 / 81
 Steady DF

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Parties and Elections in Europe: The database about parliamentary elections and political parties in Europe, by Wolfram Nordsieck
  2. 1 2 Bakke, Elisabeth (2010), "Central and East European party systems since 1989", Central and Southeast European Politics Since 1989, Cambridge University Press, p. 80, retrieved 18 November 2011
  3. ↑ Pokret za promjene proslavio deceniju postojanja CdM
  4. ↑ Konzervativci i PzP nastavljaju saradnju Dan

External links

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