Longtime leader admits defeat, Montenegro has new president

Montenegro's long-time leader Milo Djukanovic on April 2 conceded defeat in the second round of the presidential election to his rival Jakov Milatovic, a 36-year-old former economy minister.

“ Montenegro has made its choice. I respect that choice and congratulate Jakov Milatovic,” Djukanovic, a 61-year-old politician who has led the country since 1991, told supporters at his party headquarters in the capital Podgorica late on April 2.

After Mr Djukanovic's speech, Mr Milatovic told supporters: "Tonight is the night we have waited for more than 30 years. In the next five years, we will lead Montenegro to join the European Union."

According to the Center for Monitoring and Research (CEMI), which published the preliminary results of the second round of presidential elections in Montenegro, the candidate of the “Europe Now!” movement, Jakov Milatovic, won with 60% of the vote, while the incumbent President Milo Djukanovic, from the Social Democratic Party of Montenegro (DPS), received the remaining 40%.

“This result suggests that the final result will not be significantly different,” said CEMI analyst Ana Nenezic. With Milatovic’s victory clear, his supporters took to the streets of the capital Podgorica, waving banners and setting off fireworks.

Supporters of Montenegro's newly elected President Jakov Milatovic celebrate his victory in the second round of the presidential election in the capital Podgorica, April 2, 2023. Photo: Le Monde

Supporters of Montenegro's newly elected President Jakov Milatovic celebrate his victory in the second round of the presidential election in the capital Podgorica, April 2, 2023. Photo: Le Monde

Neither candidate was able to win a majority in the first round of Montenegro's presidential election held on March 19.

If the official results are confirmed, Mr Milatovic's victory could help the former Yugoslav republic escape two years of political deadlock and return to the path of reform.

President Djukanovic is expected to stay in office until May 21, handing over the largely ceremonial position to Mr Milatovic for a five-year term.

Mr Milatovic is a leading member of the “Europe Now!” movement. As economy minister, he has campaigned to boost prosperity in a country that had averaged nearly 3% growth for two decades, before major upheavals in the past three years, driven in part by the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine conflict, pushed energy prices to record highs.

“Europe Now!” captured national attention with a strong showing in last year’s local elections in the capital Podgorica, within months of its founding.

President Milo Djukanovic leaves a polling station in Podgorica, April 2, 2023. Photo: Le Monde

In an interview with RFE/RL just before the first round of voting, Kenneth Morrison, an expert on modern Southeast European history and politics at De Montfort University in the United Kingdom, said few presidential elections in Montenegro are as important as this one because its outcome could determine the country's future trajectory .

Minh Duc (According to RFE/RL, Euronews)

Source: https://www.nguoiduatin.vn/lanh-dao-lau-nam-thua-nhan-that-bai-montenegro-co-tong-thong-moi-a601109.html