Pro-Europe Prime Minister Claims Victory In Montenegro’s Election
By Stefan J. Bos, Worthy News Bureau Chief
BUDAPEST/PODGORICA (Worthy News) — Montenegro’s Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic claimed victory in the Balkan country’s general election Monday, March 30, and pledged to speed up its entry into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
People danced in the streets after Montenegro’s ruling coalition said it had won Sunday’s early parliamentary ballot. Crowds also shouted Dukanovic’s name and some threw fire works in the capital Podgorica, as he appeared in front of his supporters.
He said voters opted for a safer life, for economic prosperity and democracy, and for the European future of the country. “Voters have clearly opted for a safer life, for economic prosperity and democracy, and for the european future of our country,” he said.
Initial results showed that Prime Minister Djukanovic’s coalition, known as “For a European Montenegro,” received about 49 of the parliament’s 81 seats.
Its closest challenger, the opposition Socialist People’s Party, was expected to receive 15 seats followed by the New Serbian Democracy Party in third place.
The coalition’s re-election has been linked to its push towards membership of the European Union and NATO.
Djukanovic’s government also oversaw an economy, which grew strongly since Montenegrobecame independent, following its split with Serbia in 2006.
The opposition accused the prime minister of seeking early elections before the effects of global recession would make winning back office more difficult.
But the government of this tiny nation of less than 700-thousand people said it wanted an early ballot only to in its words “receive a new mandate” to push through necessary reforms.