Montenegro Elects Jakov Milatovic President, Ending Milo Djukanovic’s Three-Decade Rule
Jakov Milatovic emerged victorious in Montenegro’s presidential election, securing about 60 percent of the votes in what projections describe as a decisive win for the economist and former finance minister. In the closing rounds, Milatovic challenged the established political order led by Milo Djukanovic, winning with a substantial margin that underscored shifting attitudes among Montenegro’s voters toward new leadership and the country’s European ambitions.
The victor stood as the candidate for Europe Now! (ES), a youthful political movement that has positioned itself as pro-European while navigating relations with regional partners. His opponent, the incumbent president Milo Djukanovic, received roughly 40 percent of the vote in the second round, signaling a strong, though diminished, base of support for a long-time political figure who has shaped Montenegrin politics for decades. The results reflected the culmination of strategic campaigning and the evolving priorities of a population living through rapid regional and global changes.
CeMI, a non-governmental organization, calculated the verdict based on roughly 90 percent of the vote count and later shared projections via Montenegrin public broadcaster RTCG. The outcome came as citizens—more than 540,000 strong—participated in the election to determine the fate of the presidency for a five-year term. Montenegro, a NATO member since 2017, continues its quest to join the European Union, a process that remains central to the country’s political discourse and policy direction. The vote marked a pivotal moment as the country navigates its path toward stronger European integration and broader regional engagement.
The electoral shift also signaled the end of Djukanovic’s influence in the executive branch after decades of leadership, a period defined by long-running political dominance and frequent changes in government roles. The transition represents a significant turning point for Montenegro as it seeks to balance internal reform with external commitments, including regional stability and EU accession talks that have kept the nation in a spotlight for years.
Milatovic, who had previously served as Finance Minister in the coalition that toppled the Socialist Democratic Party of Montenegro (DPS) in December 2020, has been central to the political realignment that followed that breakthrough. The coalition’s push to reorient Montenegro toward diversified economic policy and closer alignment with European standards laid the groundwork for Milatovic’s rise. In the wake of the 2020 shift, the economist founded the Europe Now! party, which has promoted pro-European values while maintaining a nuanced posture toward regional relationships, including a degree of engagement with Serbia. This background provided Milatovic with both a reformist mandate and a broad appeal across segments of the electorate seeking change and continuity in governance, economic strategy, and regional diplomacy.
As Montenegro moves forward, analysts anticipate the new administration will place emphasis on strengthening institutions, advancing economic resilience, and maintaining steady progress in EU accession negotiations. The transition also invites close scrutiny of how Milatovic’s leadership will balance domestic reform with Montenegro’s commitments to security alliances and regional partnerships that shape its strategic outlook in Southeast Europe. The electoral result is expected to influence policy debates on governance, public finance, and social welfare, alongside broader efforts to harmonize regulations with EU norms and standards. [CeMI]