Montenegro calls presidential elections for March 19

BELGRADE (SERBIA), 17 Jan. (DPA/EP) –

Montenegro’s presidential elections will be held on March 19, according to what the president of the Montenegrin Parliament, Danijela Durovic, has set on Monday.

“In accordance with Article 89 of the Constitution of Montenegro and Article 2 of the Law on the Election of the President of Montenegro, the Speaker of the Parliament of Montenegro is authorized and obliged to call elections for the President of Montenegro no later than 120 days before the end of the mandate of the president of Montenegro”, justifies Durovic’s office in a statement.

The president of the chamber considers that “the most appropriate and appropriate thing is that the date of holding the elections is March 19, 2023”, since various religious festivities are celebrated in April, and as of April 23 the time limit would be exceeded. maximum period of 90 days from the date of the announcement.

“Respecting the legal deadlines, taking into account other circumstances and respecting the religious feelings and obligations of the citizens of Montenegro,” Durovic added.

President Milo Dukanovic could run for a second five-year term, but has yet to make a clear statement on his intentions.

Dukanovic, a pro-Western, has determined the policy of the former Yugoslav republic for more than 30 years, in different capacities, winning the country’s independence in 2006, accession negotiations to the European Union in 2012 and NATO entry in 2017. .

However, critics accuse Dukanovic of corruption and electoral fraud, according to the dpa news agency.