Montenegro Aims to Rehabilitate Dynasty

If the bill is adopted by parliament, the descendants of the Petrovic royal family will be rehabilitated both morally and financially, and will be given property and buildings in Njegusi and Cetinje, the former capital of Montenegro, as well as an apartment in Podgorica, the current capital.

The draft law also addresses the establishment and funding for the Petrovic-Njegos Foundation, which would receive financing from Montenegro's state budget amounting to some €4 million.

It is also possible that the descendents of the Petrovic throne will be allowed to perform some non-political protocol activities.

The Petrovic dynasty ruled Montenegro until 1918, when it was overthrown by the Serbian Karadjordjevic dynasty, which brought in the short-lived Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes.

The deposed King Nikola went into exile in France, where he died several years later.

The great-grandson of the deposed king, Prince Nikola Petrovic-Njegos, returned to Montenegro from France as the country began preparations for its referendum on independence in 2006.

He has been present on Montenegro's political scene off and on since then, and has campaigned for a law to rehabilitate his family's dynasty and return royal properties.