Montenegro Axes Former Ruling Party Officials from Administration

New Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic (L) and former PM Dusko Markovic (D) at a meeting in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The new government defended the diplomatic purge as a move to professionalize the service. "As a way to strengthen Montenegrin diplomacy and exclude any form of political influence, the government will insist on career diplomats more than political figures," it said.

In parliamentary elections held on August 30, three opposition blocs won a slender majority of 41 of the 81 seats in parliament, ousting the long-ruling DPS.

New Government fires the chief of police, intelligence

On Thursday's session government also fired the police directorate chief, Veselin Veljovic, who was known to be close to former prime minister Dusko Markovic, and a man not shy about making political statements. During the December 2019 protests of the Serbian Orthodox Church against the disputed Freedom of Religion law, Veljovic accused the clergy of trying to destabilize the country. On August 27, he accused the opposition of preparing a riot on parliamentary election day. On Thursday, the government dismissed the National Security Agency boss, Dejan Perunicic, also known to be close to the former regime of the veteran leader Milo Djukanovic.

The recalled diploimats were ambassador to China and ex-president of parliament Darko Pajovic, ambassador to Italy and ex-minister of science Sanja Vlahovic, ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina and DPS MP for almost two decades Obrad Miso Stanisic, ambassador to the Vatican and ex-foreign minister, Miodrag Vlahovic, ambassador to Serbia and ex-DPS political director, Tarzan Milosevic, ambassador to the United Arab Emirates Dusanka Jeknic, and ambassador to Germany Vera Kulis....