Mila Đukanović's party in Montenegro moves to center-right by joining European People's Party

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) led by Mila Đukanović, who has played a decisive role in Montenegro politics for a long time, has redetermined its place in European politics. According to unofficial statements and political observers, the party has taken a step to join the European People's Party (EPP), the largest and most influential political family in Europe. This move indicates that DPS is shifting away from its traditional social democratic line towards the center-right. This strategic change under the leadership of the party's current leader and Prime Minister of Montenegro, Milo Spajić, has sparked debates over the party's voter base and ideological positioning. EPP membership also aims to support DPS's relations with the European Union and Montenegro's European integration process.

Political analysts like Nikola Radišić interpret this development as Spajić's effort to position his party as a center-right party by including it in Europe's largest political family. The relationship with the Party of European Socialists (PES), which DPS was previously a member of but moved away from for a while, remains uncertain in this new period. PES officials avoided giving a clear answer to questions regarding why DPS preferred the EPP, whether it evaluated other parties, or how much the ideological distance with the PES had reached. This silence has led to speculation about where DPS settles within the political polarization in Europe. The party's internal dynamics and Spajić's reform vision are seen as the main driving force of this ideological transformation.

The political rationale behind this move is based on DPS's desire to maintain its dominance in Montenegro politics. The changing political climate in Montenegro in recent years and the reshaping of ruling blocs forced DPS to review its old alliances. The EPP, being the largest group in the European Parliament and hosting the ruling parties of many EU member states, offers a safe haven and a prestigious identity for DPS. Additionally, assuming a center-right identity may allow the party to appeal to more conservative and nationalist voter segments. This situation appears to be in line with Spajić's strategy to spread the party to a broader base. However, this situation may create some tensions with the party's traditional social democratic base.

The separation from the PES, known as the Alliance of Europeans and Socialists for Democracy (S&D) group, can also be considered a significant loss for the European left front. DPS was known as one of the long-standing representatives of the social democratic movement in the Balkans. Therefore, the party's transition to the EPP may have effects not only on Montenegro's but also on the region's political map. PES's silence on the issue leads to interpretations that relations between the two sides have not completely severed, or at least bridges have not been completely burned. However, in the current picture, DPS's official route is seen as the EPP. This situation once again reveals how deep the reflections of political groupings in Europe can be in national politics.

It is a matter of curiosity how DPS's new identity will affect coalition dynamics in Montenegro in the future. Prime Minister Spajić's pro-European foreign policy and reformist agenda can be further strengthened with EPP membership. However, balancing the internal dynamics of the party and reconciling the old socialist identity with the new center-right position will not be easy. How voters will react to this transformation and whether DPS can maintain its vote rate with this new identity in the next elections are among the question marks followed by political analysts. In summary, DPS's joining the EPP opens a new page in Montenegro politics, while the party formalizes its political position in Europe and completes its ideological transformation.