Election Date: September 10, 2006

Abstract: At stake: Assembly of the Republic

At stake: Assembly of the Republic

Background

Montenegro was an independent nation from the Middle Ages until 1918, when the Podgorica Assembly merged the area to the Kingdom of Serbs, Croats and Slovenes, which was later renamed as the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. During World War II, Montenegro was occupied by Italian and German troops. In 1945, Montenegro became one of the six constituent members of the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In 1991, Yugoslavia began to dissolve as Croatia and Slovenia declared their independence. The remnants of the Yugoslav Federation were transformed into Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. Both member states survived as a single entity—mostly because of influence from the European Union (EU)—and hinted at outright separation.

Filip Vujanovic of the Democratic Party of Montenegrin Socialists (DPSCG) won the 2003 presidential election in Montenegro in his third try.

Click here for Montenegro 2003 Presidential Election Tracker

By early 2006, Serbia and Montenegro had a population of 7.5 million people. Montenegro had close to 620,000 residents.

On Mar. 2, the Montenegrin Parliament passed a motion finalizing the details for a referendum on independence, which was scheduled for May 21. The rules called for more than half of all eligible voters to participate. In order to effectively achieve independence, 55 per cent of all actual voters had to choose Yes on the following question: "Do you wish the Republic of Montenegro to be an independent state with full international and legal subjectivity?"

Montenegrin prime minister Milo Djukanovic explained his rational for a Yes vote, saying, "I can see that having yet another small state complicates decisions in large groups like the European Union. But I am also certain that the people of Montenegro have a right to decide their future and we will be better off independent."

On May 21, 55.5 per cent of Montenegrin voters chose to become a sovereign nation. On Jun. 3, the Assembly of the Republic issued its formal Declaration of Independence.

2006 Assembly of the Republic Election

The first legislative election since independence has been scheduled for Sept. 10. In all, seven coalitions and two parties have registered to take part in the ballot. The governing coalition includes the Democratic Party of Montenegrin Socialists (DPSCG) of prime minister Milo Djukanovic and the Social-Democratic Party of Montenegro (SPCG). The DPSCG has been part of the government for the past 17 years.

Nine pro-Serbian parties have assembled in two different alliances, one of them commanded by the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro (SNPCG) of Predrag Bulatovic. The pro-European Movement for Change (PZP) of Nebojsa Medojevic and the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA) will contest on their own.

In August, Djukanovic discussed Montenegro's corruption problems, declaring, "I can say with certainty that when you speak of such problems in Montenegro, they are not present in any way that would exceed those in other societies in transition, although probably they are not present less."

A poll released in late August by CEDEM placed the Democratic Party of Montenegrin Socialists (DPSCG) and the Social-Democratic Party of Montenegro (SPCG) in first place with 45.1 per cent, followed by the coalition that includes the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro (SNPCG), the People's Party of Montenegro (NSCG) and the Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro (DSSCG) with 18.8 per cent, the Movement for Change (PZP) with 16.2 per cent, and the Serbian List with 11.1 per cent.

Voting took place on Sept. 10. Final results gave the DPSCG-SPCG coalition 41 seats in the 81-member legislative branch. The Serbian List was second with 12 seats, followed by the SNPCG coalition with 11, and the Movement for Change also with 11 mandates.

Djukanovic discussed the outcome, saying, "It will be necessary in the coming period to carry out comprehensive reforms to adapt our standards to those of the European Union. We will need to keep the interest of foreign investors without whose impetus economic development would be slower. We need stability to secure the Europeanization of Montenegro."

OSCE election observer Joao Soares declared, "The people of the world's newest country can be proud that their first election since gaining independence met international electoral standards. We look forward to working with our Montenegrin parliamentary colleagues and overcoming remaining challenges."

Turnout was tabled at 70.3 per cent.

On Oct. 3, Djukanovic announced he was stepping down as prime minister. On Oct. 6, the DPSCG nominated justice minister Zeljko Sturanovic as Montenegro's new head of government.

On Nov. 10, Sturanovic was approved by the country's lawmakers in a 44-26 vote. The new government features defence minister Boro Vucinic, foreign minister Milan Rocen, interior minister Jusuf Kalamperovic, and finance minister Igor Luksic.

Political Players

President: Filip Vujanovic - DLECG
Prime minister: Zeljko Sturanovic - DLECG

The president is elected to a five-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Skupstina Republike Crne Gore (Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro) has 75 members, elected to four-year terms by proportional representation.

Results of Last Election:

President - Dec. 22, 2002, Feb. 9, 2003 and May 11, 2003

	Dec. 2002	Feb. 2003	May 2003
Filip Vujanovic (Democratic Party of Montenegrin Socialists)	83.9%	81.5%	63.3%
Dragan Hajdukovic	5.9%	7.1%	3.9%
Aleksandar Vasiljevic (Serbian Radical Party)	3.0%	3.9%	--
Milan Radunovic (Party of Natural Law)	1.4%	1.5%	--
Miodrag Zivkovic (Liberal Alliance of Montenegro)	--	--	30.8%

Assembly - Sept. 10, 2006

	Seats
Coalition for European Montenegro Democratic Party of Montenegrin Socialists (DPSCG) Social-Democratic Party of Montenegro (SPCG)	41
Serbian List	12
Coalition Socialist People's Party of Montenegro (SNPCG) People's Party of Montenegro (NSCG) Democratic Serbian Party of Montenegro (DSSCG)	11
Movement for Change (PZP)	11
Liberals and the Bosniak Party	3
Coalition of the Democratic League of Montenegro and the Party of Democratic Prosperity	1
Democratic Union of Albanians	1
Albanian Alternative	1

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