The Popular Movement of Montenegro (, NP), commonly known as simply Popular Movement, is a

conservative Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civiliza ...

regionalist

political party A political party is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular area's elections. It is common for the members of a party to hold similar ideas about politics, and parties may promote specific political ideology, ...

Montenegro , image_flag = Flag of Montenegro.svg , image_coat = Coat of arms of Montenegro.svg , coa_size = 80 , national_motto = , national_anthem = () , image_map = Europe-Mont ...

, formed in February 2021 from the political alliance of the same name. The alliance, which was formed back in May 2020 prior to the August parliamentary election, ran within the common opposition "

For the Future of Montenegro For the Future of Montenegro (, ZBCG) is a mainly cultural conservative and Serbs of Montenegro, Serb political coalition in Montenegro, formed for the 2020 Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2020 and 2023 Montenegrin parliamentary election, 2023 ...

" list. The party also seeks to represent Serb ethnic interests. Party founder and current leader is Montenegrin-Serbian businessman Miodrag "Daka" Davidović, who is known as a great benefactor of the

Serbian Orthodox Church The Serbian Orthodox Church ( sr-Cyrl-Latn, Српска православна црква, Srpska pravoslavna crkva) is one of the autocephalous (ecclesiastically independent) Eastern Orthodoxy, Eastern Orthodox Eastern Orthodox Church#Constit ...

and a longtime financier of the Montenegrin

opposition Opposition may refer to: Arts and media * ''Opposition'' (Altars EP), 2011 EP by Christian metalcore band Altars * The Opposition (band), a London post-punk band * ''The Opposition with Jordan Klepper'', a late-night television series on Comedy ...

during the a thirty-year long DPS-led regime in Montenegro. NP has no seats in the

national parliament In modern politics and history, a parliament is a legislative body of government. Generally, a modern parliament has three functions: Representation (politics), representing the Election#Suffrage, electorate, making laws, and overseeing ...

and is yet to contest the elections, its currently operating regionally within the country's second-largest municipality of

Nikšić Nikšić (Cyrillic script, Cyrillic: Никшић, ), is the second largest city in Montenegro, with a total population of 32,046 (2023 census) located in the west of the country, in the centre of the spacious Nikšić field at the foot of Trebjesa ...

and its surrounding areas.

History

Political alliance

In July 2020

United Montenegro United Montenegro (, UCG) is a conservative political party in Montenegro. Party founder and de facto political leader is Goran Danilović, former Minister of Interior Affairs in Government of Montenegro. History The United Montenegro was founded ...

(UCG),

Workers' Party Workers' Party is a name used by several political parties throughout the world. The name has been used by both organisations on the left and right of the political spectrum. It is currently used by followers of Marxism, Marxism–Leninism, Maoism ...

(RP) and

Independent group Independent Group may refer to: *Independent Group (art movement), a group of artists *Independent Group (Kenya), a defunct political party in Kenya *Independent Group (Solomon Islands), a political faction in the Solomon Islands *Independent Group ...

in the parliament (composed of former members of SNP and

DEMOS Demos may refer to: Computing * DEMOS, a Soviet Unix-like operating system * DEMOS (ISP), the first internet service provider in the USSR * Demos Commander, an Orthodox File Manager for Unix-like systems * Plural for Demo (computer programming ...

parties), agreed to form a new

cultural conservative Cultural conservatism is described as the protection of the cultural heritage of a nation state, or of a culture not defined by state boundaries. It is sometimes associated with criticism of multiculturalism, and anti-immigration sentiment. Bec ...

political alliance under the name ''Popular Movement'', continuing its activity within the joint coalition with

Democratic Front Democratic Front is a name used by political parties and alliances in several countries, such as: *Democratic Front (Albania) *Democratic Front for the Liberation of Angola *Democratic Front (Bosnia and Herzegovina) * Democratic Front (Cyprus) * Dem ...

(DF), Socialist People's Party (SNP) and the

True Montenegro The True Montenegro (; abbr. Права / Prava or ПЦГ / PCG) is a right-wing populist political party in Montenegro, formed in January 2018 from the political movement ''Resistance to Hopelessness'' (OB), prior to the March 2018 presidentia ...

(PCG). During July 2020, Popular Movement was joined by another minor right-wing parties, such as Democratic Party of Unity (DSJ) and

Democratic Serb Party The Democratic Serb Party () is a minor conservative political party in Montenegro, representing the Serbs of Montenegro. History The Democratic Serb Party was formed in 2003 following a split from the Serb People's Party led by Božidar Bojovi� ...

(DSS). The newly founded coalition initiator and de facto leader is controversial

Belgrade Belgrade is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Serbia, largest city of Serbia. It is located at the confluence of the Sava and Danube rivers and at the crossroads of the Pannonian Basin, Pannonian Plain and the Balkan Peninsula. T ...

-based Montenegrin businessman

Miodrag Davidović Miodrag "Daka" Davidović (; born 1957) is a Montenegrin businessman, economist and politician, prominent representative of Serbs from Montenegro, benefactor of the Serbian Orthodox Church and a longtime financier of the Montenegrin opposition d ...

. On 2 August 2020, the Popular Movement officially decided to enter the common opposition electoral list with Democratic Front and the SNP, in order to participate at the forthcoming

parliamentary election A general election is an electoral process to choose most or all members of a governing body at the same time. They are distinct from by-elections, which fill individual seats that have become vacant between general elections. General elections ...

, forming big tent "

" pre-election coalition. At the joint electoral list, NP leading candidate was

(UCG) member

Vladimir Dobričanin Vladimir Dobričanin (; born 5 August 1972) is a Montenegrin doctor and politician who is currently active as a teaching associate in General surgery, General Surgery at the University of Montenegro Faculty of Medicine, Medical Faculty of the Univ ...

, by holding seventh position on the list, their other candidate was Maksim Vučinić, leader of the

(RP), who hold only the twenty-seventh place on common electoral list. The founding members in July 2020 were: *

, national and cultural conservative party (2 MPs) * Non-partisans, moderate conservative (2 MPs, ) *

, socially conservative and left-populist party (1 MP) *

, conservative Christian democratic party (non-parliamentary) * Democratic Party of Unity, national conservative party (non-parliamentary) All constituent members of newly founded alliance employed a more significant cultural and socially conservative discourse, advocating

rights in Montenegro, due to the 2020 Montenegrin political crisis, and an open conflict between the

Serbian Orthodox Church in Montenegro Eastern Orthodoxy in Montenegro refers to adherents, religious communities, institutions and organizations of Eastern Orthodox Christianity in Montenegro. It is the largest Christian denomination in the country. According to the latest 2023 Census ...

and the

Democratic Party of Socialists Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (Cyprus) (DCY) **Democratic Part ...

-led

Government of Montenegro The government of Montenegro (, Влада Црне Горе) is the executive branch of state authority in Montenegro. It is headed by the Prime Minister of Montenegro, prime minister. It consists of the prime minister, the deputy prime ministe ...

, following the adoption of the disputed law on the status of religious communities in the country. The August 2020 election resulted in a victory for the opposition parties and the fall from power of the ruling DPS, which has ruled the country since the introduction of the multi-party system in 1990. Dobričanin and Vučinić both was elected to the Parliament, after the coalition won 32.55% of popular vote and 27 seats in the parliament, while Montenegrin professor close to

and Davidović's alliance,

Zdravko Krivokapić Zdravko Krivokapić ( Serbo-Croat Cyrillic: Здравко Кривокапић; born 2 September 1958) is a Montenegrin professor and former politician who served as Prime Minister of Montenegro from 2020 to 2022. In addition to his professorsh ...

was selected new

prime minister-designate A prime number (or a prime) is a natural number greater than 1 that is not a product of two smaller natural numbers. A natural number greater than 1 that is not prime is called a composite number. For example, 5 is prime because the only ways ...

of Montenegro by the new parliamentary majority in September 2020, announcing economical reforms, fight against corruption, as well as withdrawal of the disputed law on religious communities. During October and November, Davidović repeatedly stated that the leaders of the populist

(of which he was one of the founders in 2012, as well as longtime financier) were trying to obstruct the political agreement on forming a new government, by unfoundedly accusing him and the

of influencing Prime Minister-designate Krivokapić decisions and the composition of the new cabinet of the Government of Montenegro. He told the media that the Democratic Front would not succeed in that because, as he said, "the prime minister-designate has the support of the people of Montenegro."

Political party

On 21 November 2020, at the church's holiday of Holy Archangel Michael, the businessman

announced that he is founding a political party under the name the Popular Movement (of Montenegro). Davidović announced new party founding in front of the Monastery of Saint Sava at the Golija Mountain near

, which is his endowment. He said that the new party practically emerged from the short-lived

For the Benefit of All For the Benefit of All ( / Да свако има) was an opposition catch-all and pro-EU political alliance in Montenegro. It is composed of the Socialist People's Party (SNP), United Montenegro (UCG) and Workers' Party (RP), as well as some i ...

coalition, which he initiated in 2019, and which consisted of the Socialist People's Party (SNP),

(UCG), the

(RP) and the independent parliamentary club in the parliamentary led by Aleksandar Damjanović. Davidović announced that the high-ranking members of the new party will be the members of the Matica Srpska in Montenegro, NGO "We won't give you, Montenegro", as well as some of members of the

cabinet Cabinet or The Cabinet may refer to: Furniture * Cabinetry, a box-shaped piece of furniture with doors and/or drawers * Display cabinet, a piece of furniture with one or more transparent glass sheets or transparent polycarbonate sheets * Filin ...

. On 1 February 2021 in Nikšić, Davidović and his associates presented the program and ideological identity of the new party, announcing participation in the March 2021 local elections in Nikšić, as well expressing support for Prime Minister Krivokapić and his government.Niko ne može da nas ucijeni: "Narodni pokret" predao odborničku listu
15 February 2021 Since its foundation party accepted a

centre-right Centre-right politics is the set of right-wing politics, right-wing political ideologies that lean closer to the political centre. It is commonly associated with conservatism, Christian democracy, liberal conservatism, and conservative liberalis ...

populist Populism is a contested concept used to refer to a variety of political stances that emphasize the idea of the " common people" and often position this group in opposition to a perceived elite. It is frequently associated with anti-establis ...

discourse, advocating

moderate Moderate is an ideological category which entails centrist views on a liberal-conservative spectrum. It may also designate a rejection of radical or extreme views, especially in regard to politics and religion. Political position Canad ...

and

cultural conservatism Cultural conservatism is described as the protection of the cultural heritage of a nation state, or of a culture not defined by state boundaries. It is sometimes associated with criticism of multiculturalism, and anti-immigration sentiment. B ...

anti-corruption Anti-corruption (or anticorruption) comprises activities that oppose or inhibit corruption. Just as corruption takes many forms, anti-corruption efforts vary in scope and in strategy. A general distinction between preventive and reactive measur ...

Eastern Orthodox Church The Eastern Orthodox Church, officially the Orthodox Catholic Church, and also called the Greek Orthodox Church or simply the Orthodox Church, is List of Christian denominations by number of members, one of the three major doctrinal and ...

rights in Montenegro,

rule of law The essence of the rule of law is that all people and institutions within a Body politic, political body are subject to the same laws. This concept is sometimes stated simply as "no one is above the law" or "all are equal before the law". Acco ...

decentralisation Decentralization or decentralisation is the process by which the activities of an organization, particularly those related to planning and decision-making, are distributed or delegated away from a central, authoritative location or group and gi ...

labour rights Labor rights or workers' rights are both legal rights and human rights relating to labor relations between workers and employers. These rights are codified in national and international labor and employment law. In general, the ...

and

agrarianism Agrarianism is a social philosophy, social and political philosophy that advocates for rural development, a Rural area, rural agricultural lifestyle, family farming, widespread property ownership, and political decentralization. Those who adhere ...

.O nama
Народни покрет - Миодраг Дака Давидовић, Retrieved 2021-01-09 Party failed to achieve a significant result in competition with another right-wing populist list led by

alliance, which enjoyed support by the SNS-led regime in Serbia. SNS-controlled media and its affiliated political outlets in Serbia, Montenegro and

Republika Srpska Republika Srpska ( sr-Cyrl, Република Српска, ; also referred to as the Republic of Srpska or Serb Republic) is one of the two Political divisions of Bosnia and Herzegovina, entities within Bosnia and Herzegovina, the other bein ...

publicly supported Democratic Front-led list, launching a negative campaign to discredit Davidović and his newly-formed party, as direct competition seeking support from the same voter base, among local Serb community. Davidović's party continued to operate locally within Nikšić municipality, where it currently has a single representative in the 41-seat assembly.DPS izgubio većinu u Nikšiću, stranke na vlasti na državnom nivou slave pobedu
14 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-05-11

References

{{Montenegrin political parties 2020 establishments in Montenegro Political parties established in 2020 Conservative parties in Montenegro Serb political parties in Montenegro Christian democratic parties in Montenegro Socially conservative parties Pro-European political parties in Montenegro