Montenegro: Democratic Party of Socialists Wins 35.2 Percent of Vote, Coalition around Democratic Front 32.5 Percent

Milo Djukanovic (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic)

The Democratic Party of Socialists won the most votes in the Aug. 30 general election in Montenegro, but not even with its traditional partners will it be able to form a majority in parliament show the preliminary results announced by the State Electoral Commission on Aug. 31.

The Democratic Socialists won 35.2 percent of the vote, while the second strongest group, the coalition led by the Democratic Front together with two other opposition blocs has a narrow majority of 41 seats in the 81-seat Montenegro Parliament.

The For the Future of Montenegro coalition, led by the Democratic Front, won 32.5 percent of the vote, the Peace Is Our Nation bloc garnered 12.5 percent, while the Black on White civic movement was supported by 5.57 percent of voters.

The Montenegrin Electoral Commission announced the preliminary results after processing 98.5 percent of the ballots. Preliminary results published by the Center for Monitoring CEMI show that the Democratic Party of Socialists won 30 seats and would have 38 with its traditional partners, which is not enough to form the government.

Party leader Milo Djukanovic said that “the fight for a majority is still on.” He added that his party will wait for the arrival of results from all polling stations and the final results from the Electoral Commission, after which it will “announce the final score.”