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Jakov MilatovicPresident of Montenegro from 20 May 2023
Date of Birth: 07.12.1986
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Content:
- Early Life and Education
- Career in Economics
- Political Career
- "Europe Now!" Movement
- 2023 Presidential Elections
- Political Views
- Personal Life and Religion
Early Life and Education
Jakov Milatović was born on December 7, 1986, in Titograd (now Podgorica), the capital of the Socialist Republic of Montenegro. He attended Slobadan Škerović Gymnasium for his primary and secondary education. Milatović earned a bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Montenegro and a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Oxford in 2013. He was a Chevening Scholar and a Konrad Adenauer Foundation Fellow. Milatović is fluent in English, Italian, and Spanish.
Career in Economics
Milatović began his career as a risk manager at NLB Bank and later at Deutsche Bank in Frankfurt, where he specialized in evaluating credit risk for Central and Eastern European countries. From 2014, he worked at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) in the Economic and Policy Analysis department, initially as an economist analyst for Southeast Europe and subsequently as an economist specializing in the Western Balkans. In 2018, Milatović was promoted to Principal Economist for EU member countries, including Romania, Bulgaria, Croatia, and Slovenia.
Political Career
Following the parliamentary elections on August 30, 2020, the opposition, for the first time in 30 years, formed the government. Milatović was appointed as Minister of Economy and Economic Development in the new government led by Zdravko Krivokapić. He took office on December 4, 2020, and, together with Minister of Finance Milojko Spajić, pursued an ambitious economic program, "Europe Now!", aimed at increasing social justice and the living standards of citizens, including raising the minimum wage, reducing income taxes, and introducing progressive taxation. As Minister of Economy, Milatović led the Montenegrin delegation at the 24th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum in 2021.
On February 4, 2022, the Parliament passed a no-confidence vote in Krivokapić's government. Milatović remained in the position of Minister of Economy until the appointment of Dritan Abazović's government on April 28, 2022, when he resigned.
"Europe Now!" Movement
In September 2022, former ministers from Krivokapić's government, Milojko Spajić and Jakov Milatović, established the center-right movement "Europe Now!" as an alternative for pro-European citizens who neither supported the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro, which had been in power for 30 years, nor opposed the pro-Serbian opposition forces such as the Democratic Front, Socialist People's Party of Montenegro, and United Montenegro.
"Europe Now!" debuted in the local elections on October 23, 2022, held in 14 out of 25 Montenegrin municipalities. The movement succeeded in electing its candidates to local assemblies in eight municipalities, and in five of these (Danilovgrad, Kolašin, Podgorica, Pljevlja, Tivat), the opposition parties gained more mandates than the Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro and its allies, enabling them to form local governments. In Danilovgrad and Podgorica, "Europe Now!" took second place (after the DPSM) and potentially could appoint mayors with the support of other opposition forces. Milatović led the "Europe Now!" electoral list in the Podgorica capital assembly elections.
However, the final results of the Podgorica elections, which would allow the new assembly to convene and elect a mayor, were not confirmed. Post-election complaints of alleged irregularities reached the Constitutional Court. Yet, after several resignations, the Constitutional Court lacked the quorum to make decisions, leaving the complaints unresolved and the vote results unverified. Only on February 27, 2023, did the Parliament of Montenegro resolve the quorum issue by appointing three Constitutional Court judges.
2023 Presidential Elections
In February 2023, "Europe Now!" nominated its chairman, Milojko Spajić, as its candidate for the presidency in the 2023 election. However, due to alleged dual citizenship with Serbia, the State Election Commission disqualified Spajić and allowed "Europe Now!" to propose another candidate. On February 23, 2023, the movement nominated its deputy chairman, Jakov Milatović, for the presidential race. On March 4, it was decided by drawing lots that Milatović would be placed second on the ballot.
In the first round of the presidential elections on March 19, 2023, Milatović placed second with 29.2% of the vote, advancing to the second round as the challenger of incumbent President Milo Đukanović. He emerged victorious in the presidential run-off on April 2, 2023.
Political Views
According to Milatović, he voted for Montenegrin independence in the 2006 referendum on leaving the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. He supports Montenegro's continued membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the country's accession to the European Union. At the same time, Milatović advocates for improved relations with Serbia and criticizes the stoking of anti-Serb sentiment in society.
Personal Life and Religion
Milatović is married with three children. He is affiliated with the Serbian Orthodox Church and was baptized in the Ostrog Monastery.
