The DPS1 has been one of the most influential political forces in the country’s pre/post-independence history, shaping its political, economic, and social tra-jectory for over three decades. From its beginnings during the Yugoslav Com-munist era (1945), to its rise to power as the dominant party in an independent Montenegro, the DPS has played a key role in the country’s democratic transition and its complex relationship with the European Union (EU) and regional sta-bility. The party has guided Montenegro through periods of economic reform, independence, and transition under Milo Đukanović’s leadership, but it has also faced growing criticism and challenges to its power.