KNEŽEVIĆ AND MANDIĆ: Different tactics, the same strategic goal
The sharp nationalist rhetoric by Democratic People's Party (DPP) leader Milan Knežević is pushing him toward the far-right end of the political spectrum and creates the impression that he is distancing himself from the policies of Andrija Mandić, the leader of New Serbian Democracy (NSD), who is increasingly looking toward the West. However, according to sources, the radicalization of political messaging was previously coordinated with Belgrade, and both Knežević and Mandić are pursuing different political approaches in support of the same state-building project directed from Belgrade under the leadership of Aleksandar Vučić.
The consolidation of the radical Serbian electorate and its regrouping under the „political umbrella of the DPP“ is the primary objective of Milan Knežević’s current highly active political campaign.
According to Television E sources, this communication strategy was previously agreed upon with Aleksandar Vučić and his closest associates. Through intensive political activism, the Democratic People's Party leader is attempting to reduce the number of potential abstainers within the Serbian electorate, voters who have become disillusioned by what they perceive as the increasingly visible turn toward the West by the once-undisputed leader of the Serbian political bloc, Andrija Mandić, President of the New Serbian Democracy.
This is why Milan Knežević uses every opportunity to radicalize his political positions, from appearances on television stations close to the regime in Belgrade to debates in the Montenegrin Parliament. Such was the case only a few days ago in the Parliament of Montenegro.
„THE SO-CALLED MONTENEGRIN INDEPENDENCE“
- They invite Milo Đukanović, they invite Filip Vujanović, they invite Darko Pajović, they invite Miraš Dedeić, they grin alongside them, they celebrate the days of the so-called Montenegrin independence… And then we wonder - where does Milo come from? Milo is like VAT; he will never disappear! And Ranko Krivokapić moved our diplomacy celebrations from Berane to Cetinje because the tricolour flag bothers him - Knežević fumed from the parliamentary benches.
Experts from the circle surrounding the Serbian president have reportedly advised Knežević to focus his public appearances on identity-related issues - from persistently advocating the display of the Serbian tricolour flag and insisting that Serbian become an official language, to strongly criticizing the government, particularly Prime Minister Milojko Spajić’s Europe Now Movement.
At the same time, he has directed sharp criticism toward the opposition, especially the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and its former leader Milo Đukanović, primarily over Montenegro’s recognition of what he calls the „false state of Kosovo“ and the country’s accession to NATO.
In this way, Knežević presents himself as a different political option from Mandić.
MUSIĆ: SUPPORTERS OF AN IMPERIAL PROJECT
Political analyst Aleksandar Musić, speaking recently with journalist Milena Radonjić on the programme 24 Hours, argued that the differing narratives promoted by Mandić and Knežević are merely components of a single political tactic.
While Mandić plays a political game aimed at the international community, creating the appearance of distancing himself from the increasingly weakened political figure of Aleksandar Vučić, Knežević has assumed the role of Vučić’s spokesperson. However, as Musić emphasizes, both Mandić and Knežević support the same imperial Greater Serbian project.
- We should not confuse two different things. One thing is distancing oneself from a worn-out politician who is approaching the end of his political career, distancing oneself from a failed political brand. Something entirely different would be distancing oneself from the project itself. Neither of them is moving away from that project, regardless of their different styles, tones, or sentiments. And that project is a permanent neo-imperial interest of the deep state in the neighbouring country toward Montenegro - Musić told Television E.
INSTRUCTIONS FROM BELGRADE
In pursuit of that common objective, sources claim that Knežević has been advised from Belgrade not to engage in open criticism or direct confrontation with Andrija Mandić.
He has also been encouraged not to avoid cooperation with political figures who have traditionally been loyal to Mandić, such as Dario Vraneš, the Mayor of Pljevlja, who reportedly has little interest in participating in Mandić’s efforts to cultivate closer relations with the West.
According to Television E sources within Montenegro’s National Security Agency, Serbian Ambassador Nebojša Rodić, formerly head of Serbia’s Security Information Agency, played a significant role in fostering cooperation between Knežević and Vraneš.
The current political strategy is pushing Milan Knežević further toward the far-right end of the political spectrum, and it is estimated that his strong Serbian nationalist rhetoric could attract smaller pro-Serbian parties that have little chance of surpassing the electoral threshold, encouraging them to join the Democratic People's Party.
However, this does not mean that the DPP leader Milan Knežević has embarked on a different path from that of New Serbian Democracy leader Andrija Mandić. On the contrary, it represents merely a new strategy aimed at achieving the same Greater Serbian political objective.