Author: President of the Parliament of Montenegro, leader of The New Serb Democracy and one of the founders of the coalition „For The Future Of Montenegro“, Andrija Mandic
Today, we do not remember only a single day. In our memory, together with it, live all those days, years, and decades of sincere faith in the victory of freedom, while our hearts beat for all those people whose honesty and sacrifice made an unforgettable contribution to the triumph of open democracy. In the life of every nation, there are days that become symbols of an era, of visions and hopes shared by the majority of its people. This shall be such a day – the day when the people defeated a regime and a privatized state.
A state temporarily taken from its citizens by powerful individuals who turned it into the possession of self-proclaimed masters of freedom and law. That day marks the end of feudal democracy in this country, the end of rule by the hidden pharaohs of politics, and the end of its weary suffering under the self-serving delusions of its leaders. We shall remember this day as the day of freedom – not only freedom from injustice, forbidden words, denied equality, and stripped rights to diversity, but also as freedom for all people born to live freely and equally, with dignity and morality – for all in Montenegro, for all born here, who remember it, feel it as their own, and live for its progress.
It is also a day of the victory of democracy – of free and independent democracy, liberated from decades of captivity under the unchangeability of power and the tyranny of personal delusions above society and the state. It is the triumph of the idea that democracy is not merely the act of voting in elections.
As Havel said after its victory in the Czech Republic – democracy is above all a constant concern for the freedom of the other, of the one with whom you may not agree, but with whom you live and share the same responsibility for the good of your country. The year 2020 shall remain inscribed in golden letters in the annals of Montenegro’s history and its people. The social-spiritual phenomenon of the Orthodox Litanies healed the soul of our nation and represented the first step towards burying and overcoming the trenches that the former regime had dug for nearly three decades. In those days, we all breathed and marched as one.
We knew that defeat was not an option, we knew that unity was imperative, and precisely for this reason my colleagues from the Democratic Front and I were unanimous that the broadest possible political unity had to be achieved – at any cost. I repeat – at any political cost. Absolutely all the resources of our coalition were placed at the disposal of the people so that Montenegro could finally be freed. Such selfless work on the ground had not been seen since the fateful referendum campaign. We were fully aware that this was a moment of “to be or not to be.” Through joint effort, the evening of 30 August arrived – and with it, the birth of a liberated Montenegro.
This is a day of victory that must not be anyone’s defeat, a victory achieved not by force but by conviction – a victory of morality and humanity: to see another as oneself, to correct oneself before criticizing others, a victory of memory – that nothing be forgotten, but only confirmed by truth; that the good be remembered more than the evil; that peace and reconciliation bring people together, rather than further dividing and distancing a divided society. This is a day that proves that with the power of truth and non-violence even the strongest walls can fall.
Democracy is not something granted to us once and for all. It is a daily task, a duty, a result, an acknowledgment of mistakes, and praise even for the smallest steps of progress. Just as freedom is not only the absence of fear, but also respect for the freedom of others. Like Kant’s moral imperative: to do nothing that you would not wish another to do unto you. Among us, this has always been called čojstvo. That is why there can be no true democracy or genuine freedom without the čojstvo of our people – of the citizen and his noble dignity in all the decisions of state and society. Today, we do not remember only a single day – today we renew our pledge that democracy is not something gifted to us forever. It is a task, a duty, and a constant struggle for the better life of all and of each. It is life in every day, in every decision, in every responsibility shown. It is our vision of the future, our path of reconciliation and our life choice, our faith that truth and love must prevail over every lie and hatred. This is not a slogan – it is the only way for our community to remain humane and progressive.
Since the changes of 30 August, and especially since the formation of the present parliamentary majority, salaries have risen by hundreds of euros. Today, the average salary is over €1,000 and the average pension over €500. Minimum wages have increased by more than €350. The unemployment rate is the lowest in history. These are the results of joint political consensus, and now, instead of the simulated progress of the former regime, we have real achievements. This is not just economic statistics – it is the message that this country can advance when it is led by serious people willing to work. And I know, dear citizens, that you feel this every month.
Interethnic relations have relaxed. Montenegro today is a country of freedom and tolerance. Absolutely everyone has the right to express their opinion without fear. We all remember that once even the smallest deviation from party directives cost people their jobs, not to mention more. This was particularly true for those employed in public administration, who lived and worked under constant fear that the slightest disagreement with the regime’s position would cost them everything. Today, those same people express their opinions freely, every day, without fear.
You remember, dear citizens, that once the Police, the Army, the ANB, and other security services were instruments for gathering votes and persecuting political opponents, while today they serve the citizens of Montenegro. We now stand at the very gates of the European Union. The results we have achieved are met with praise both from you, dear citizens, and from our international friends. This parliamentary majority will bring our country into the family of developed European states.
This majority will resolve the accumulated issues and problems left behind by the former regime – above all the fight against organized crime and corruption, strengthening of the economy, and social questions such as the status of the majority Serbian language. Montenegro is a land of the future – a country with room for all, a country where future generations will remember and celebrate 30 August as the day of new liberation and reconciliation. In conclusion, dear citizens, as a Serb politician in Montenegro, as someone who sincerely wishes this country to be a paradise for each of its inhabitants and all those who wish to build their future here, and as the President of the Parliament of Montenegro, I wish you a happy 30 August! Long live a free and reconciled Montenegro!
30 August – The Day of New Liberation and Reconciliation of Montenegro
Today, we do not remember only a single day. In our memory, together with it, live all those days, years, and decades of sincere faith in the victory of freedom, while our hearts beat for all those people… pic.twitter.com/9sDDJPdSEP
— Андрија Мандић (@AndrijaMandicDF) August 30, 2025
(Source: Borba)
