Montenegrin MPs Expected to Vote on New Govt

Vote in parliament on new government put off to Tuesday, following opposition demands that a controversial vote in the town of Niksic be examined.Milo Djukanovic, Montenegro’s prime minister designate and head of the Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, had been expected to present the programme and structure of the new government on Monday.

However, the session was delayed for Tuesday after the opposition demanded that last week’s controversial ballot for the post of mayor in the local assembly in Niksic be examined.

Although the opposition won a majority in the local election in the town, a secret ballot in the local assembly on Thursday produced a majority in favour of Sonja Nikcevic, the candidate of the DPS-led European Niksic Coalition.

When the opposition asked for a repeat ballot, Drago Djurovic, a deputy from the opposition Positive Montenegro party, left the assembly along with 20 deputies from the European Niksic coalition.

The chamber was thus left without a quorum and the session had to be delayed.

Following Thursday’s events, opposition parties claimed Djurovic’s behaviour was evidence of corruption.

Although Vijesti Television reported that the prosecution had launched an investigation into the case, it is still unclear when Niksic’s local deputies will reconvene for a fresh vote.

Meanwhile, media reported that the new national government will consist of 16 ministers and four vice-prime ministers.

The general election in Montenegro was held on October 14, along with the local elections in the towns of Budva, Niksic and Kotor.

The DPS and its allies in the European Montenegro Coalition won 39 of the 81 seats. Bosniak, Albanian and Croat ethnic minority parties won six mandates and have since allied with the DPS.

The remaining 36 seats are held by opposition Socialist People’s Party, the Democratic Front and Positive Montenegro.