Jakov Milatović facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jakov Milatović
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Јаков Милатовић
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Milatović in 2024
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| 3rd President of Montenegro | |||||||||
| Assumed office 20 May 2023 |
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| Prime Minister | |||||||||
| Preceded by | Milo Đukanović | ||||||||
| Minister of Economic Development | |||||||||
| In office 4 December 2020 – 28 April 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Zdravko Krivokapić | ||||||||
| Preceded by | Dragica Sekulić | ||||||||
| Succeeded by | Goran Đurović | ||||||||
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| Personal details | |||||||||
| Born | 7 December 1986 Titograd, SR Montenegro, Yugoslavia |
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| Political party | Independent (before 2022, since 2024) | ||||||||
| Other political affiliations |
Europe Now! (2022–2024) | ||||||||
| Spouse | Milena Milatović | ||||||||
| Children | 3 | ||||||||
| Education |
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| Occupation | Politician • Economist | ||||||||
| Signature |  |
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Jakov Milatović (born on December 7, 1986) is a Montenegrin politician and economist. He is the current president of Montenegro, a role he has held since May 2023. Before becoming president, he was the Minister of Economic Development from 2020 to 2022. He also worked as an economist at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Milatović is the youngest person to be president of independent Montenegro. He was elected in 2023 at 36 years old. He is the third president since Montenegro became independent in 2006. His main goals include making life better for people, fighting against corruption, and helping Montenegro join the European Union by 2028.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Jakov Milatović was born in Titograd, Yugoslavia, on December 7, 1986. He went to elementary and high school there. In his high school yearbook in 2005, he wrote that he hoped to become the president of Montenegro within ten years. His family has a history of fighting for their country. His grandfather and great-grandfather were part of the Yugoslav Partisans in World War II. His great-grandfather also fought in World War I.
Milatović studied economics at the University of Montenegro. He also spent time studying in the United States, Austria, and Italy. He earned his master's degree in economics from St John's College, Oxford in the United Kingdom. He received scholarships to help him with his studies. Besides his native Serbian, he speaks English fluently and also knows Italian and Spanish.
Career as an Economist
Before entering politics, Milatović worked in banking. He was at NLB Group in Podgorica and Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt. In 2014, he joined the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. He worked in a team that analyzed economic and political situations. By 2019, he became a main economist for EU countries like Romania and Bulgaria. He has also written articles and co-authored books on economics.
Political Journey
Minister of Economic Development (2020–2022)
Jakov Milatović served as the Minister of Economic Development from December 2020 to April 2022. During this time, he worked with the finance minister to create an economic plan called "Europe now." This plan aimed to increase the lowest amount of money people could earn (minimum wage). It also worked to lower taxes and attract money from other countries. The plan was very popular with the public.
Founding Europe Now! and Local Elections
In 2022, Milatović and his colleague founded a political party called Europe Now. Milatović became the deputy leader of the party. The party took part in local elections in 2022. Milatović was the candidate for mayor in Podgorica. His party did well, and he was expected to become the mayor.
Presidential Campaign in 2023
In March 2023, Milatović became the presidential candidate for Europe Now. This happened after another candidate from his party could not run. Milatović won the election in April 2023. He won by a large number of votes against the previous president. He received 58.88% of the votes. After winning, he said his first trip as president would be to Brussels, the capital of the European Union.
Presidency (2023–Present)
Milatović officially became president on May 20, 2023. The ceremony took place in the Parliament of Montenegro in Podgorica. Many leaders from other countries in the Balkans attended his inauguration. Even Pope Francis sent his congratulations.
In June 2023, Milatović said he hoped Montenegro would join the European Union by 2027 or 2028. In August 2023, he met with the Ukrainian president. Milatović stated that Montenegro strongly disagreed with Russia's actions against Ukraine. In February 2024, Milatović announced he was leaving the Europe Now party.
Political Views
Milatović's political views are often described as being in the middle, or "centrist." He supported Montenegro becoming an independent country in 2006.
Foreign Policy
Milatović strongly supports Montenegro joining the European Union. He also believes Montenegro should have closer ties with Serbia. He supports the actions taken against Russia because of its actions in Ukraine. Milatović has said that it is not realistic for Montenegro to stop recognizing Kosovo as an independent country. He agrees with the court's decision about the Srebrenica massacre. He also supports the "Open Balkan" initiative, which aims to improve cooperation in the region.
Supporting Minorities
Milatović has shown support for minority groups in Montenegro. He wants to talk with these communities to make sure everyone has equal chances. He has also expressed support for the Roma minority. He hopes they will be represented in the Parliament of Montenegro.
LGBTQ+ Issues
In June 2023, Milatović met with groups that support LGBTQ+ rights. He emphasized that Montenegro is a country where all citizens should have equal rights. He stated there should be no discrimination. He acknowledged that Montenegro has sometimes been unsafe for LGBTQ+ people. He promised to work to protect these groups.
Immigration
Milatović has also spoken about supporting immigrants in Montenegro. He noted that countries often react to migration crises instead of preventing them. He mentioned that Podgorica helped many refugees during the Yugoslav Wars. He also highlighted Montenegro's support for immigrants from Ukraine.
Personal Life
Jakov Milatović is married to Milena Milatović. They have three children. He is a Serbian Orthodox Christian. He was baptized at the Ostrog Monastery. However, he considers his religious beliefs to be a private matter. He identifies himself as a Montenegrin by ethnicity and speaks Serbian.
Honours
Foreign Honours
Italy: Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (awarded in 2025)
See also
In Spanish: Jakov Milatović para niños
