Peace is Our Nation

The Peace is Our Nation (Montenegrin: Mir je naša nacija / Мир је наша нација), initially announced as the Citizens' Bloc (Građanski blok / Грађански блок) is a big tent, moderate and pro-European pre-election opposition political coalition in Montenegro, formed for the August 2020 parliamentary election.[1][2]

Peace is Our Nation Mir je naša nacija Мир је наша нација
Leader	Aleksa Bečić
Founded	12 July 2020
Headquarters	Podgorica
Ideology	Moderate politics[1] Anti-corruption[1] Catch-all alliance Pro-Europeanism
Political position	Centre (majority)
Slogan	We Are Family
Montenegrin Parliament	10 / 81
Local Parliaments	98 / 786
Politics of Montenegro Political parties Elections

History

The coalition was formed on 12 July 2020, and it is composed of the Democrats, DEMOS, the New Left, PUPI, as well some independent candidates, such as liberal politician Vladimir Pavićević, former leader of the Montenegrin party.[3]

The main goal of the coalition is to overthrow the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) of President Milo Đukanović, which has been in power since 1991, announcing a anticorruption, reformist and moderate platform, also representing itself as civic and multinational alternative to the growing populist and nationalist rhetoric within the ruling DPS and opposition Democratic Front (DF), which they accuse of polarizing Montenegrin society and inciting ethnic hatred and unrest. Leader of the Democrats Aleksa Bečić will head the joint electoral list for the parliamentary election in August 2020.[4][1][5]

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. The coalition won 12.54% of the popular vote, which equals 10 seats in the parliament.[6] Coalition list leader Bečić and the leaders of the lists For the Future of Montenegro and United Reform Action, Zdravko Krivokapić and Dritan Abazović, agreed during meeting on several principles on which the future government will rest, including the formation of an expert government, to continue to work on the European Union accession process, fight against corruption, overcoming society polarization, and to work on changing the disputed Law on Religious Communities.[7] They welcomed minority parties of Bosniaks and Albanians, and wished to form government with them.[7]

Electoral performance

Parliamentary election

Election	Popular vote	% of popular vote	Overall seats won	Government	Ballot carrier
2020	51,298	12.53%	10 / 81	government	Aleksa Bečić

Members

Member		Main ideology	Position	Leader	No. of seats
	Democrats	Conservative liberalism Pro-Europeanism	Centre	Aleksa Bečić	9 / 81
	DEMOS	Liberal conservatism Pro-Europeanism	Centre-right	Miodrag Lekić	1 / 81
	New Left	Social democracy Democratic socialism	Centre-left	Saša Mijović	0 / 81
	PUPI	Pensioners' interests Social justice	Single-issue	Momir Joksimović	0 / 81
	Ind.^[a]	Economic liberalism Pro-Europeanism	Centre	Vladimir Pavićević	0 / 81
^[a] – the Democrats-affiliated Policy Research Society, non-governmental organization (NGO) from Podgorica.

References

1. "Prva predizborna koalicija, formiran građanski blok". www.antenam.net.
2. Koalicija Mir je naša nacija: Ubjedljivo ćemo pobijediti DPS na izborima, Cafe del Montenegro
3. U Crnoj Gori formiran "Građanski blok", rts.rs
4. Formiranje Građanskog bloka, Vijesti
5. Bečić predvodi koaliciju Mir je naša nacija, CdM
6. "Rezultati DIK-a na 100 odsto prebrojanih glasova: DPS 35.06, "Za budućnost Crne Gore" 32.55 odsto glasova". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Retrieved 2020-08-31.
7. "Montenegrin opposition agrees on expert government, revision of disputed laws". N1. 2020-08-31.