Montenegro's ruling coalition wins elections, estimates show
The pro-European government of Montenegrin Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic won most of the votes in the first general elections in the tiny Balkan state since it gained independence three months ago, estimates showed.
The first projections given by the non-governmental Center for Monitoring (CEMI), the group observing Sunday's vote, showed that Djukanovic's ruling coalition was on the threshold of gaining a majority of seats in the parliament.
Based on estimates done on 91.93 percent of the electorate, Djukanovic's coalition has secured 40 seats in the 81-member parliament.
"It is difficult now to announce that anyone has an absolute majority," said Zlatko Vujovic of CEMI.
"These are not final results, and there could be changes," he added.
Another observer group, Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) said Djukanovic's coalition has "probably won 41 mandates" that would enable it to form a government alone.
Preliminary official results were expected later Monday.
Despite the historic nature of the polls, voter turnout in the tiny Balkan state of just 650,000 people was lower than expected, with none of the passion and excitement that saw 85 percent of registered voters cast ballots in the independence referendum in May.
Djukanovic's ruling coalition had been widely expected to win the polls, riding a wave of goodwill that followed the proclamation of independence from Serbia on June 3 and Montenegro's prompt acceptance as the newest member of the United Nations.
"I expect these polls to be democratic and enable the election of a government able to respond to the demands Montenegro is facing," Djukanovic told reporters after casting his ballot.
Djukanovic, the longest-serving politician in all of the six former communist Yugoslav republics, has become the key architect of Montenegro's independence drive.
He has campaigned hard on the issue of fast-track integration into the European Union, pushing for an association and stabilization agreement to be signed by the end of this year as a first step towards joining the 25-member bloc.
Andjela Babovic, a 32-year old chemist, said she had no doubt where her vote was going.
"You have nobody else to vote for but Djukanovic. Although he has been in power for so long, he is still the best and I do not want him to change," she said.
The main opposition bloc led by the pro-Serbian Socialist People's Party of Predrag Bulatovic was expected to win 11 mandates, same as the new political force, the Movement for Change, a non-governmental organization-turned-party, estimates showed.
Many voters seemed unwilling to embrace the prospect of a change of government at such a crucial juncture, especially given divisions within the opposition, who have been unable to focus their attention on much-needed social, economic or political reforms.
"The opposition is only criticizing Djukanovic. They offer no program," said Maja Perovic, an unemployed clerk.
"They just want to take over his place, but have nothing to promise for the economy or politics," she said.
Early figures confirmed that turnout was down significantly from the May independence referendum, when Montenegrins began queuing in the early hours in order to secure their chance to vote, but still nearly 70 percent of registered voters.
Voting day was calm but on the eve of the election police arrested 14 people in ethnic Albanian-dominated southeastern Montenegro on suspicion of planning terrorist acts.
Two ethnic Albanian parties protested the arrests, saying they were "politically motivated" and aimed at putting a pressure on their supporters ahead of the polls.
But the authorities denied such charges, with Djukanovic saying that the police "have professionally and efficiently done their job."
"Life does not halt in the days before the elections. Thieves steal on these days, murderers kill ... and those ready to execute terrorist actions are preparing for that," Djukanovic told reporters.
Alongside the general election, voters were also choosing representatives for their local assemblies and mayors in 14 towns and municipalities throughout the country.
AFP
