The municipal assembly of Pljevlja, a northern Montenegrin town with a significant Serb population, has scheduled an extraordinary session for July 21 to debate a draft declaration aimed at revoking Montenegro’s recognition of Kosovo.
The political maneuver mirrors a broader, highly controversial trend among pro-Serbian local governments in Montenegro attempting to challenge Podgorica’s official foreign policy.
The Political Mechanics Behind the Initiative
The push to hold the extraordinary session was spearheaded by the pro-Serbian coalition “For the Future of Pljevlja”, which includes:
- The Democratic People’s Party (DNP)
- The New Serb Democracy (NSD)
So far, 19 local assembly members have formally backed the initiative, guaranteeing that the motion will be actively debated on July 21. If approved, the local assembly will officially state that it does not recognize the 2008 decision made by the central Government of Montenegro to recognize Kosovo as an independent state.
Legal Reality vs. Symbolic Posturing
While the declaration carries immense symbolic weight, it has zero legal power under Montenegrin law. Foreign policy remains the exclusive constitutional domain of the national government in Podgorica.
| Level of Government | Authority on Foreign Policy | Legal Impact of the Declaration |
| National Government (Podgorica) | Exclusive Authority (Since 2008 recognition) | Binding state policy |
| Municipal Assembly (Pljevlja / Zeta) | No Jurisdiction | Symbolic political message |
This initiative follows a identical move by the Zeta Municipal Assembly (located in the historic Zeta valley region of central Montenegro), which previously passed its own local declaration “annulling” the recognition of Kosovo.
Ultimately, these local resolutions are designed to serve as political pressure points directed at the ruling coalition in Podgorica, highlighting deep, ongoing internal divisions over Montenegro’s geopolitical alignment.
