Milo Đukanović facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Milo Đukanović
Мило Ђукановић
Đukanović in 2019
2nd President of Montenegro
Incumbent
Assumed office 20 May 2018
Prime Minister	Duško Marković Zdravko Krivokapić Dritan Abazović
Preceded by	Filip Vujanović
Succeeded by	Jakov Milatović (elect)
In office 15 January 1998 – 21 May 2003
Prime Minister	Filip Vujanović
Preceded by	Momir Bulatović
Succeeded by	Filip Vujanović
Prime Minister of Montenegro
In office 4 December 2012 – 28 November 2016
President	Filip Vujanović
Preceded by	Igor Lukšić
Succeeded by	Duško Marković
In office 29 February 2008 – 29 December 2010
President	Filip Vujanović
Preceded by	Željko Šturanović
Succeeded by	Igor Lukšić
In office 8 January 2003 – 10 November 2006
President	Filip Vujanović Dragan Kujović Filip Vujanović
Preceded by	Dragan Đurović (Acting)
Succeeded by	Željko Šturanović
In office 15 February 1991 – 5 February 1998
President	Momir Bulatović
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Filip Vujanović
Minister of Defence
In office 5 June 2006 – 10 November 2006
Prime Minister	Himself
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Boro Vučinić
President of the DPS
Incumbent
Assumed office 31 October 1998
Preceded by	Milica Pejanović-Đurišić
Personal details
Born	(1962-02-15) 15 February 1962 (age 61) Nikšić, PR Montenegro, FPR Yugoslavia
Nationality	Montenegrin
Political party	SKJ (1979–1991) DPS (1991–present)
Other political affiliations	Coalition for a European Montenegro (1998–2016)
Height	198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Spouse(s)	Lidija Kuč
Children	1
Relatives	Aco Đukanović (brother)
Alma mater	University "Veljko Vlahović"

Milo Đukanović (Montenegrin: Мило Ђукановић born 15 February 1962) is a Montenegrin politician who served as the President of Montenegro from 2018 to 2023, previously serving in the role from 1998 to 2003. He also served as the Prime Minister of Montenegro (1991–1998, 2003–2006, 2008–2010 and 2012–2016) and is the long-term president of the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, originally the Montenegrin branch of the League of Communists of Yugoslavia, which governed Montenegro alone or in a coalition from the introduction of multi-party politics in the early 1990s until its defeat in the 2020 parliamentary election. He is the longest-ruling contemporary politician in Europe, having held key positions in the country for over 33 years.

When Đukanović first emerged on the political scene, he was a close ally of Slobodan Milošević during the anti-bureaucratic revolution (1988–1989) and the dissolution of SFR Yugoslavia (1991–1992). His cabinet actively participated in the siege of Dubrovnik (1991–1992). Đukanović supported Momir Bulatović's agreement on Lord Carrington's terms, which resulted in the 1992 Montenegrin independence referendum, where voters decided to remain in FR Yugoslavia. In 1996, however, Đukanović distanced himself from Milošević and the federal government, abandoning the traditional joint Serbian and Montenegrin vision in favour of Montenegrin nationalism, which supported the state independence and a separate Montenegrin identity. That led to the division of the party and the split of the Bulatović's pro-unionist faction. Shortly afterward, Đukanović defeated Bulatović in the 1997 presidential election by a thin margin. In 1999, he negotiated with western countries in an attempt to limit airstrikes in Montenegro during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia, while later Đukanović oversaw the implementation of the Deutsche Mark as the new currency in Montenegro, replacing the Yugoslav dinar.

Following the overthrow of Milošević (2000), he signed an agreement with the new Serbian government that led to the Constitutional Charter of Serbia and Montenegro (2003), which allowed for Montenegrin independence. Three years later, the 2006 independence referendum led to a formal separation from the state union and the proclamation of the new Constitution of Montenegro (2007). Đukanović has pursued NATO and EU accession policy, resulting in Montenegro's NATO membership in 2017. Over the course of his premiership and presidency, he oversaw the privatization of public companies to foreign investors and firms. Several corruption scandals of the ruling party triggered 2019 anti-government protests, while a controversial religion law sparked another wave of protests. For the first time in three decades, in the 2020 parliamentary election, the opposition won more votes than Đukanović's ruling party and its partners.

Some observers have described Đukanović's rule as authoritarian or autocratic, as well as a kleptocracy. His brother Aleksandar, the owner of Montenegro's first private bank, had the upper hand in privatisations, while his sister, the lawyer Ana Kolarevic, controlled the judiciary for a long time. DPS clientelist networks dominated all segments of social life, making party membership necessary to start a business or obtain a position in the administration. In 2020, the Freedom House classified Montenegro as a hybrid regime rather than a democracy, mentioning the years of increasing state capture, abuse of power, and strongman tactics employed by Đukanović. He is often described as having strong links to the Montenegrin mafia. Đukanović was listed among the twenty richest world leaders according to the British newspaper The Independent in May 2010, which described the source of his estimated £10 million wealth as "mysterious". In October 2021, Đukanović and his son Blažo were mentioned in Pandora Papers, linking them to two trusts on British Virgin Islands.

Early life

Milo Đukanović was born in Nikšić on 15 February 1962, to Radovan and Stana Đukanović (née Maksimović). His given name is derived from that of a paternal relative who had fought alongside Đukanović's grandfather Blažo during World War I; the name was selected by Đukanović's paternal grandmother. Đukanović's paternal ancestors, members of the Ozrinići tribe who hailed from the village of Čevo, had settled in the Nikšić area following the Battle of Vučji Do in 1876. Prior to the birth of Đukanović's older sister Ana in 1960, Đukanović's father had worked as a judge in Bosnia and Herzegovina, before relocating to Nikšić with his family and taking up residence in the Đukanović family's ancestral village, Rastovac. Đukanović's mother was a nurse. His younger brother Aleksandar (Aco) was born in 1965. Đukanović completed his primary and secondary education in Nikšić, before relocating to Titograd to attend Veljko Vlahović University's Faculty of Economics. He graduated in 1986 with a diploma in tourism studies. Đukanović was an avid basketball player in his youth.

Honours and awards

• Albanian National Flag Order received in July 2016.
• San Marino Order of the Knight of Grand Cross received in March 2022.