current president MontenegroMilo Djukanovic and economist Jakov Milatovic, Both pro-European politicians became the politicians with the most votes in the first round of the presidential election today.
the next president of the country, member of NATO and candidate for membership of the European Union (EU)He will be chosen from among the duos in the second round to be held on April 2.
Djukanoviccandidate of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), won with 35.3% of the votes received todaythe census based on 98.5 percent according to the inspection projections of the non-governmental organization CeMI, which is also broadcast by the public television RTCG.
milatovicyoung extra-parliamentary movement Europe Now! (ES), which is on the rise in the unstable Montenegrin political scene received 29.2% of the voteaccording to these estimates.
Djukanovic said the result tonight showed: its citizens respect its “modern Montenegrin policy”He said that it lays a good basis for the parliamentary elections to be held on 11 June.
Presidential elections are held In the midst of a political crisis in Montenegroand, according to analysts, they show the strength of the parties represented by the candidates for the anticipated legislative elections.
“What I envision as the first round and the final result is in the next parliament. Let’s confirm the power of a European Montenegro“Djukanovic said today.
Milatovic, 37, was economy minister As an expert with experience in Western countries in the first government established after Djukanovic’s DPS fell in 2020.
He encourages a moderate and conciliatory rhetoric and is seen by many as a second-round favourite. can be supported by parties that defeat DPS together three years ago.
The candidate of the pro-Serbian and pro-Russian Democratic Front (DF) Andrija Mandic, the third most voted person in today’s presidential election With 19%, he announced his support for Milatovic in the second round tonight.
Centrist European Democratic Montenegro is also thought to support him.
Milatovic reassured after learning the results On April 2, he took a “very important step” towards victory, and “restore hope” to citizens in the building of a European country with new politicians on the Montenegrin scene.
About 540,000 citizens entitled to vote The polls went to the polls today to elect a new president for a five-year term in Montenegro’s fourth presidential election since its independence in 2006.
Political instability caused Fall of two governments since 2020the last one was last August and it’s on tentatively.
Djukanovic, 61, has dominated the political scene for over 30 years. served six terms as prime minister and has so far been president in the second term.
It is accepted “Father of Montenegro’s independence”, and his critics accuse him of autocracy, but he charted the country’s Euro-Atlantic path.
His final win in the second round would be a huge boost to his DPS. 2020, when it lost its power for the first time in three decades It faces a heterogeneous coalition of pro-European and pro-Russian, but also burdened with corruption scandals for many years in power.