Jakov Milatović

Jakov Milatović (Cyrillic: Јаков Милатовић, pronounced [jakoʋ mǐlatoʋitɕ]; born 7 December 1986) is a Montenegrin politician and economist who is the president-elect of Montenegro following his victory against the incumbent president Milo Đukanović in the 2023 presidential election. He served as the minister of economic development in the cabinet of Zdravko Krivokapić from 4 December 2020 until 28 April 2022.[1]

Jakov Milatović
Јаков Милатовић
Milatović in April 2023
President-elect of Montenegro
Assuming office
20 May 2023
Prime MinisterDritan Abazović
SucceedingMilo Đukanović
Member of the City Assembly of Podgorica
In office
12 April 2023 – 11 May 2023
Minister of Economic Development
In office
4 December 2020 – 28 April 2022
Prime MinisterZdravko Krivokapić
Preceded byDragica Sekulić
Succeeded byGoran Đurović
Personal details
Born (1986-12-07) 7 December 1986
Titograd, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia
Political partyEurope Now! (2022–present)
Other political
affiliations		Independent (before 2022)
SpouseMilena Milatović
Children3
EducationUniversity of Montenegro (BA)
St John's College, Oxford (MPhil)

Early life and education

Milatović was born on 7 December 1986[2] in Titograd, SR Montenegro, SFR Yugoslavia, where he graduated elementary and secondary school Gymnasium "Slobodan Škerović". In his yearbook page from 2005 it was stated that Milatović will become the president of Montenegro within 10 years.[3] His grandfather and great-grandfather fought in World War II as Yugoslav Partisans.[4] His great-grandfather also participated in World War I and fought in the Battle of Mojkovac in 1916.[3] His father was an unionist and one of the founders of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) in 1997.[5] Milatović claimed that his father couldn't find employment due to his opposition to the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).[3]

He completed his undergraduate studies in the field of economics at the Faculty of Economics of the University of Montenegro. He spent one academic year at Illinois State University as US Fellow; one semester at the Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU Wien) as Government of Austria Fellow; one academic year at the Sapienza University of Rome (La Sapienza) as EU Fellow. Milatović completed his MPhil in economics at St John's College, Oxford. He was a British Government Chevening Scholarship Fellow. He was also a fellow of the German Konrad Adenauer Foundation.[6] Milatović is fluent in English, and speaks Italian and Spanish.

Economics career

Milatović worked at NLB Group Podgorica, and Deutsche Bank, Frankfurt. In 2014 he joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in the team for economic and political analysis. In 2019, he was promoted to the principal economist for the EU countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia and Slovenia, and was based at the Bank's office in Bucharest.[7]

He has published a number of articles and co-authored two books.[8]

Political career

He served as the minister of economic development in the Krivokapić Cabinet from 4 December 2020 to 28 April 2022.[9] During his term, Milatović and finance minister Milojko Spajić presented and implemented the controversial "Europe now" economic reform program.[10]

In 2022, Milatović and Spajić founded the Europe Now political party, with Spajić as president and Milatović as deputy president. It participated in the 2022 local elections,[11] with Milatović heading the organizations electoral list in Podgorica as its mayoral candidate.[12] The list won 21.7% of the popular vote and Milatović was expected to become the mayor of Podgorica.[13]

2023 presidential campaign

In March 2023, Milatović ran as a replacement candidate of Europe Now in the 2023 Montenegrin presidential election after Spajić's candidacy was rejected by the State Electoral Commission (DIK) as it was discovered that he is a dual citizen of Serbia and Montenegro.[14] He was elected president following his landslide victory against the incumbent president Milo Đukanović in the run-off on 2 April 2023.[15] Milatović won 58.88% of the popular vote[16] and his inauguration will take place on 20 May in the Parliament of Montenegro in Podgorica.[17] He stated that his first foreign visit will be to Brussels.[18]

Political positions

His political positions have been described as centrist,[19][20] while some describe him as a populist.[21][22][23] Milatović voted for the independence of Montenegro at the 2006 independence referendum.[4] Prior to entering politics he voted for SNP, Democratic Montenegro and the For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) coalition.[5]

Foreign policy

He supports the accession of Montenegro to the European Union.[24] He advocates closer relations between Montenegro and Serbia.[25][26][27] Milatović supports sanctioning Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine, which he considers an act of aggression.[28] Milatović called the proposals of Montenegro revoking the recognition of Kosovo's independence unrealistic, stating that Kosovo is an internationally recognized country.[29] Milatović stated that he agrees with the International Court of Justice's verdict on the Srebrenica genocide.[30] He supports the Open Balkan initiative.[3][31][27]

Jakov and Milena Milatović

Personal life

Milatović is married to Milena Milatović and has three children. He is a Serbian Orthodox Christian and was baptized in the Ostrog Monastery.[26] He identifies himself as a Montenegrin by ethnicity.[32]

References
  1. "Ko je Jakov Milatović kandidat za ministra za ekonomski razvoj" [Who is Jakov Milatović, the candidate for Minister of Economic Development]. Biznis CG (in Montenegrin). 5 November 2020. Archived from the original on 20 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  2. "Kako je, još na maturi, predskazana budućnost ministra Jakova Milatovića" [How the future of Minister Jakov Milatović was predicted at the graduation ceremony]. 20 December 2021. Archived from the original on 21 March 2023. Retrieved 21 March 2023.
  3. Dedeić, Siniša (20 March 2023). "Ko je Jakov Milatović koji tvrdi da će "Mila poslati u penziju"?" [Who is Jakov Milatović who claims that he will "send Milo into retirement"?]. Istinomer (in Serbian). Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  4. "JAKOV MILATOVIĆ: Glasao sam za nezavisnost Crne Gore 2006. godine!" [JAKOV MILATOVIĆ: I voted for the independence of Montenegro in 2006!]. kurir.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  5. "GLASAO SAM DEMOKRATE: Milatović otkrio i da mu je otac jedan od osnivača SNP-a | Region" [I VOTED DEMOCRATS: Milatović also revealed that his father was one of the founders of the SNP]. Region.alo (in Serbian). 5 March 2023. Retrieved 8 April 2023.
  6. "BIOGRAFIJA PREDLOŽENIH MINISTARA" [BIOGRAPHY OF PROPOSED MINISTERS]. www.dan.co.me. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2020.
  7. "Ovo su biografije kandidata za nove ministre" [These are the biographies of the candidates for the new ministers]. vijesti.me. Archived from the original on 5 November 2020. Retrieved 22 December 2020.
  8. portal, D. A. N. (2 April 2023). "ДАН - Biografija Jakova Milatovića" [DAN - Biography of Jakov Milatović]. www.dan.co.me. Retrieved 10 April 2023.
  9. "Izabrana 42. Vlada Crne Gore" [42nd Government of Montenegro was elected]. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  10. "Spajić, Milatović: Čvrsto stojimo iza programa Evropa sad! onako kako ga je Vlada predložila" [Spajić, Milatović: We firmly stand behind the program Europe now! as proposed by the Government]. Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  11. ""Evropa sad" izlazi na lokalne izbore, misija Pokreta: Prosječna plata 1.000 eura, minimalna penzija 450 eura, bez nezaposlenih..." ["Europe now" goes to local elections, the mission of the Movement: Average salary 1,000 euros, minimum pension 450 euros, no unemployed...]. Pobjeda. Archived from the original on 28 June 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  12. "Lokalni izbori u Crnoj Gori: DPS bez apsolutne većine u Podgorici, uspon pokreta "Evropa sad"" [Local elections in Montenegro: DPS without an absolute majority in Podgorica, the rise of the "Europe Now" movement]. Glas Amerike (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 23 October 2022. Retrieved 23 October 2022.
  13. Nova.rs (23 October 2022). "Objavljeni konačni rezultati izbora u Podgorici: Opozicija potukla Mila Đukanovića" [The final results of the election in Podgorica have been announced: the opposition beat Milo Đukanović]. NOVA portal (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  14. Milićević, Nenad (23 February 2023). ""Evropa sad" umesto Spajića kandiduje Jakova Milatovića za predsednika Crne Gore" ["Europe Now" instead of Spajić is running Jakov Milatović for the President of Montenegro]. N1 (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  15. Gedošević, Lana. "JAKOV MILATOVIĆ UBEDLJIV Obrađeno 90 odsto glasova, brojke za Mila Đukanovića NEDOSTIŽNE" [JAKOV MILATOVIĆ CONVINCING 90 percent of votes processed, numbers for Milo Đukanović UNACHIEVEABLE]. Blic.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  16. www.antenam.net. "DIK utvrdio rezultate: Milatoviću 58,88 odsto glasova, Đukanoviću 41,12 odsto" [DIK determined the results: Milatović got 58.88 percent of the votes, Đukanović got 41.12 percent]. Antena M (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 5 April 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  17. "Milatović: Predviđeno da inauguracija bude u Skupštini". vijesti.me (in Serbian). Retrieved 25 April 2023.
  18. portal, D. A. N. (3 April 2023). "ДАН - Milatović: Cilj je pomirena Crna Gora, prvo ću posjetiti Brisel, nema saradnje sa DPS-om" [DAN - Milatović: The goal is a reconciled Montenegro, I will visit Brussels first, there is no cooperation with DPS]. www.dan.co.me. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  19. "Montenegro elections: Long-standing leader Milo Djukanovic suffers defeat". BBC News. 3 April 2023. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  20. "RTS :: Region :: Đukanović ili Milatović – da li će dijaspora odlučiti izbore" [RTS :: Region :: Đukanović or Milatović - will the diaspora decide the elections]. rts.rs. Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 3 April 2023.
  21. Standard (20 March 2023). "Gjenero: Milatović nije bezazlen i pristojan, već populista kojeg je stvorila SPC" [Gjenero: Milatović is not harmless and decent, but a populist created by the SPC]. Standard (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  22. "Litijaš i desni populista Jakov Milatović nije građanski, nego u osnovi većinski kandidat kleronacionalista" [Litijaš and right-wing populist Jakov Milatović is not a citizen, but basically the majority candidate of the clero-nationalists]. Portal Analitika. Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  23. Aktuelno (2 April 2023). "OTVORENA VRATA SRPSKOG SVETA: Populista Jakov Milatović novi je predsjednik Crne Gore" [OPEN DOORS OF THE "SERBIAN WORLD": Populist Jakov Milatović is the new president of Montenegro]. Aktuelno (in Bosnian). Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  24. "Milatović: Uvešću Crnu Goru u EU, a sjever Crne Gore preporoditi" [Milatović: I will bring Montenegro into the EU, and the north of Montenegro will be reborn]. vijesti.me (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  25. Đurić, Novica. "Srbija je za Crnu Goru više od ekonomije". Politika Online. Archived from the original on 19 March 2023. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  26. "Milatović: Decu sam krstio u SPC | Politika" [Milatović: I baptized my children in SPC]. Direktno (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
  27. Pašić, Danijela (20 April 2023). "Milatović: Prijateljski sa Vučićem, bolje u Otvoreni, nego u zatvoreni Balkan" [Milatović: Friendly with Vučić, better in the Open than in the closed Balkans]. N1 (in Serbian). Retrieved 20 April 2023.
  28. "Jakov Milatović: Rusija je izvršila agresiju na Ukrajinu, Crna Gora će se u potpunosti držati političkog kursa EU" [Jakov Milatović: Russia has committed aggression against Ukraine, Montenegro will fully adhere to the political course of the EU]. Politika Online. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  29. Nikolić, Mirjana (5 April 2023). "Milatović: Crna Gora još snažnije prema EU, Kosovo je završena priča" [Milatović: Montenegro even more strongly towards the EU, Kosovo is the end of the story]. N1 (in Serbian). Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  30. "Milatović o Srebrenici: Moja pozicija je vrlo jasna" [Milatović on Srebrenica: My position is very clear]. Aljazeera. 7 April 2023. Retrieved 7 April 2023.
  31. "Milatović: Mislim da bi Crna Gora trebalo da bude dio Otvorenog Balkana" [Milatović: I think that Montenegro should be part of Open Balkan]. cdm. Retrieved 16 April 2023.
  32. "OVO JE NOVI PREDSEDNIK CRNE GORE Jakov Milatović je pobedio Mila Đukanovića: Crnogorac i pravoslavac, otac TROJE DECE" [THIS IS THE NEW PRESIDENT OF MONTENEGRO Jakov Milatović defeated Milo Đukanović: Montenegrin and Orthodox, father of THREE CHILDREN]. Blic.rs (in Serbian). Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
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