Yesterday’s parliamentary elections brought heavy losses to the party of long-term Montenegrin president Milo Djukanovic. According to forecasts by election researchers, his ruling party, the DPS, only got 35 percent of the vote and 29 or 30 seats. The forecast from the night was based on a count of 89 percent.
In the last election four years ago, the DPS had 41 percent of the vote and 36 of 81 parliamentary seats. The pro-western DPS was again the relatively strongest force this time. The opposition alliance around the pro-Russian Democratic Front (DF) is, however, hot on her heels with 33 percent of the vote and 27 or 28 mandates.
With its potential allies – two smaller social democratic parties and lists of the Albanian and Bosniak minorities – the presidential party would at best have 40 seats in the new parliament and would have missed the government majority.
Djukanovic has not yet given up leadership
The DF alliance would have one of these together with two pro-European alliances led by the liberal democrats and the citizens‘ party URA. In many positions, however, these party blocs differ widely. It remains to be seen whether – in the case of a majority – they can agree on a common government program.
Djukanovic did not give up the claim to leadership for his DPS on election night. „We currently have 40 mandates together with traditional partners,“ he said to supporters in Podgorica. “The fight for a majority in parliament continues.” In addition, the official results of the state election commission have to be awaited.
