Awaiting Referendum

The storm is just beginning The Montenegrin parliament accepted the decision of the Montenegrin presidency to organize the referendum to see whether the citizens of Montenegro wish to stay in the association of Yugoslav republics. Such a step indicates a change of policy of the ruling party. First they have stopped advocating that Yugoslavia should become a modern federation. Instead of this, the citizens of Montenegro will have to answer with "yes" or "no" a single ballot question: Would you like sovereign Montenegro to stay in the association with other Yugoslav republics who wish the same?". The future state would be founded on the principles of a single market, a single currency and monetary plicy, the unified system of defence with a commom supreme command, common foreign policy with unified diplomatic service and the right of the republics to have their own consulates and other representative offices abroad.

The state would also have the unified legal authority concerning the common constitutional functions. The protection of human and national rights and the rights of the minorities remains in the power of the republics, while the common government would be formed on the parity principle; it would have a president with a six month mandate. The presidents would change on a rota basis.

The National Party says in its report that the plebiscite would at this time cause desastrous divisions within the people, regardless of the referendum results. The National Party suggested the following ballot question: Do you agree that Montenegro should stay within the Federative Republic of Yugoslavia as an equal member. The Liberals' League of Montenegro ephasises the need for insisting on the issu of Montenegrin sovereignty. It warned that tampering with the Montenegrin state and the national interest would aggravate the internal conflict the consequences of wich would exclusively be borne by the government. No pressure, say the liberals, would prevent the citizens of Montenegro from taking the destiny of their state into their own hands. Only the sovereign Montenegro wich is open for cooperation with other Yugoslav peoples can contribute to the morally deficient Yugoslav community and bring peace to this part of Europe.

The reform block insisted that 2/3 of the citizens should decide on whether to live in the common state. That proposal, however, did not go through. It was accepted instead that the referendum would be valid if half of the electorate turn up and the decision would be legitimate if half of the voters plus one vote "yes". Both sides had valid arguments to support their claims. Both were considering the possibility of the dictatorship by the minority. Since if a 2/3 majority is needed, a third of the electorate could win the Montenegrin sovereignty or rather prevent Montenegro from joining the republics who wish the same. In other words, since the Montenegrin electorate numbers 405.000 people, 102.000 votes would decide on the future of Montenegro. The National Party and a group of the ruling party's MPs suggested that the Montenegrins living outside Montenegro should also be given the right to vote. This, however, was rejected with the explanation that only the people of Montenegro have the right to decide on the future of their state. Branko Kostic (the vice-president of the incomplete federal presidency and a Montenegrin) reminded the parliament that the ruling party won the elections owing to the politics aimed at protecting Serbian people: "If Montenegro is to go it alone, there is the possibility that the 'Greater Albania dream' would be fulfilled". President Bulatovic has for the first time publicly admitted that the opinion of the 30% of the electorate should not be neglected (it is unknown where he got this figure).

Montenegro has yet to face the difficult time.