The new reform-oriented movement Europe Now! has won the parliamentary elections in Montenegro, according to predictions after yesterday's elections, while the official results have not been announced so far.
With the votes from almost all polling stations counted, Europe Now! won 26% of the votes and therefore 24 of the 81 seats, the CDT electoral research institute announced late yesterday, Sunday, evening in Podgorica. The second strongest party is the former presidential party DPS, which received 23% of votes and can count on 21 MPs.
Following the ouster of President Milo Djukanovic in April and the rapid rise of Europe Now!, power is changing in this small Balkan country, which is a member of NATO.
The head of the Europe Now! Miloiko Spić said he is running for prime minister. «Obviously we will form the new pro-European government,» the 35-year-old Spajic said at a press conference in Podgorica.
To govern, Spits will need partners. Two pro-Serb electoral coalitions, as well as the Bosnian Muslim, Albanian and Croat parties are considered possible options.
Spić has ruled out a coalition with the DPS, which dominated Montenegrin politics for 30 years under Djukanovic.
Europe Now! was the favourite in the elections. The new party wants to modernise the country and lead it into the European Union. At the same time, however, it seeks closer relations with neighbouring Serbia.
The co-founder of Europe Now! Jakov Milatovic won the presidential election earlier this year, defeating Djukanovic.
According to election officials, the turnout was 56%, significantly lower than expected.
