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| Turnout | 73.41% ( 2.85pp) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.
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Parliamentary elections were held in Montenegro on 16 October 2016. The ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) remained the largest party, winning 36 of the 81 seats, and subsequently formed a coalition government with the new Social Democrats and national minority parties. The elections were held in the midst of an alleged coup d'état attempt. [1] [2] [3]
Protests against incumbent Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic occurred in the preceding year over issues ranging from NATO membership to electoral fraud. [4] [5] [6] A split in the ruling coalition followed in January 2016, leaving the government functioning as a de facto minority government. The provisional government of electoral trust was elected on May 12, 2016, by the parliament of Montenegro. The provisional governing coalition was formed by DPS and several opposition parties. [7]
The 81 seats of the Parliament of Montenegro are elected in a single nationwide constituency by closed list proportional representation. Seats are allocated using the d'Hondt method with a 3% electoral threshold.
Minority groups that account for at least 15% of the population in a district are given an exemption that lowers the electoral threshold to 0.7% for a possible total of three seats if their list fails to cross the 3% threshold.
For ethnic Croats, if no list representing the population passes the 0.7% threshold, the list with the most votes will win one seat if it receives more than 0.35% of the vote. [8]
On 31 August 2016, the Democratic Serb Party (DSS) decided to sign an agreement with Democratic Front Alliance, [9] as did the far-left Yugoslav Communist Party (JKP) [10] and right-wing Democratic Party of Unity (DSJ).
The Socialist People's Party (SNP), United Reform Action (URA) and DEMOS agreed to form a pre-election alliance under the name Key Coalition, [11] with Miodrag Lekić as leader. [12]
On 8 September 2016 the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) decided to run independently, with two Liberal Party (LP) representatives on their electoral list. [13]
| # | List name | Leader | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Albanians Decisively - FORCA, DUA, AA | Genci Nimanbegu | M |
| 2 | SDP - Ranko Krivokapić - Country for everyone! | Ranko Krivokapić | |
| 3 | Albanian Coalition with One Goal - DP, DS and Perspective | Gëzim Hajdinaga | M |
| 4 | Alternative Montenegro | Vesko Pejak | |
| 5 | Positive Montenegro - Darko Pajović - Because we love Montenegro | Darko Pajović | |
| 6 | Safe step! DPS - Milo Đukanović | Milo Đukanović | |
| 7 | Croatian Civic Initiative - HGI from the heart | Marija Vučinović | M |
| 8 | Mr Aleksa Bečić - Democrats - Victories, not divisions. | Aleksa Bečić | |
| 9 | Key Coalition - DEMOS, SNP, URA - The best for Montenegro! | Miodrag Lekić | |
| 10 | Serb Party - Prof. Dr. Milovan Živković | Milovan Živković | |
| 11 | Party of Pensioners, Disabled and Social Justice | Smajo Šabotić | |
| 12 | List of Democratic Alliance of Albanians | Nikola Camaj | M |
| 13 | Democratic Front - Either us, or him | Andrija Mandić | |
| 14 | Bosniak Party - Rafet Husović - Our strength | Rafet Husović | M |
| 15 | Bosniak Democratic Community in Montenegro - Hazbija Kalač | Hazbija Kalač | M |
| 16 | Social Democrats of Montenegro - Consistently | Ivan Brajović | |
| 17 | Party of Serb Radicals - Montenegro in safe hands. | Aleksandar Janković | |
| Source: DIK | |||
M — National minority list
Poll results are listed in the table below in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first, and using the date the survey's fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. If such date is unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed in bold, and the background shaded in the leading party's colour. In the instance that there is a tie, then no figure is shaded. The lead column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the two parties with the highest figures. When a specific poll does not show a data figure for a party, the party's cell corresponding to that poll is shown empty. The threshold for a party to elect members is 3%.
| Date | Polling Firm/Source | DPS | SDP | DF | Key Coalition | DCG | SD | PCG | BS | Others | Lead | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SNP | DEMOS | URA | |||||||||||
| Oct 2016 | Ipsos | 40.9 | 3.1 | 23.2 | 14.0 | 6.8 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2 | 5.6 | 17.7 | ||
| Sep 2016 | VKK | 37.2 | 4.1 | 14.3 | 22.7 | 7.1 | 2.2 | 0.8 | 2.8 | 8.8 | 14.5 | ||
| Jun 2016 | CeDem | 43.1 | 4.2 | 11.1 | 8.8 | 10.3 | 4.1 | 7.2 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 3.8 | 2.8 | 32 |
| Jun 2016 | NSPM | 39.1 | 4.1 | 22.1 | 8.2 | 6.7 | 3.2 | 6.7 | 2.4 | >1 | 2.8 | 5.1 | 17.0 |
| Apr 2016 | Ipsos | 45 | 6 | 8 | 6 | 15 | 4 | 7 | >1 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 30 |
| Feb 2016 | Damar | 40.9 | 4.3 | 11.9 | 6.4 | 12.2 | 6.1 | 6.8 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 3.6 | 3.7 | 28.7 |
| Dec 2015 | Ipsos | 45 | 4 | 8 | 6 | 13 | 8 | 6 | >1 | 2 | 2 | 6 | 32 |
| Nov 2015 | Damar | 41.7 | 4 | 11.5 | 6.4 | 11.4 | 4 | 7.4 | 2.4 | 3 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 30.2 |
| Nov 2015 | CeDem [ permanent dead link ] | 45.1 | 4.6 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 10.2 | 4.2 | 6.7 | 2.5 | 1.8 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 34.9 |
| Oct 2015 | Ipsos | 45 | 4 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 32 |
| Sep 2015 | Damar | 40.3 | 3.8 | 9.4 | 6.9 | 10.2 | 3.5 | 10.1 | 2.4 | 3.6 | 5 | 4.8 | 30.1 |
| July 2015 | CeDem | 42.7 | 5.2 | 5.8 | 8.5 | 14.4 | 5.5 | 9.2 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.8 | 28.3 |
| May 2015 | Ipsos | 42 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 5 | 7 | >1 | 2.9 | 3 | 7.1 | 26 |
| Oct 2012 | Election results | 45.6 | 22.8 | 11.1 | Did not exist | 8.2 | 4.1 | 8.1 | 22.8 | ||||
A group of 20 Serbian and Montenegrin citizens were arrested on election day. Fourteen remain in custody (as of 12 November 2016 [update] ), including former head of Serbian Gendarmery Bratislav Dikić, and some that fought for the pro-Russian side in the War in Donbass. On 6 November, the Montenegrin prosecutor Milivoje Katnić has stated that there is no evidence of Russian state involvement, but that two Russian nationalists organized the plot. [14] Two GRU agents, Vladimir Popov and Eduard Shishmakov, have been tried in absentia. [1] Russian citizens in Serbia, monitoring Prime Minister Đukanović, had been supervised by the Special prosecution, which prevented them from realizing the plan. The Serbian authorities found €125,000 in cash and uniforms, and deported an unknown number of Russian citizens. At the same time, Serbian Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić told that there had been increased activity by a number of different intelligence agencies, 'from both the East and the West', against Serbian interests, and that members of these agencies had been apprehended. The Montenegrin prosecutor said that the intention was to have 500 people enter Montenegro on election night to "cause violence", and hire assassin snipers to murder Prime Minister Đukanović – to stop Montenegro from entering NATO and prevent Russia from losing an ally in the Balkans. All opposition parties claimed that the coup attempt was staged by the Government of Montenegro and DPS as a publicity stunt to improve their electoral results, and denounced elections as irregular, refusing to accept the results. [15] [16] [17]
| Party | Votes | % | Seats | +/– | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro | 158,490 | 41.41 | 36 | +3 | |
| Democratic Front | 77,784 | 20.32 | 18 | –2 | |
| Key Coalition | 42,295 | 11.05 | 9 | 0 | |
| Democratic Montenegro | 38,327 | 10.01 | 8 | New | |
| Social Democratic Party of Montenegro | 20,011 | 5.23 | 4 | –2 | |
| Social Democrats of Montenegro | 12,472 | 3.26 | 2 | New | |
| Bosniak Party | 12,089 | 3.16 | 2 | –1 | |
| Positive Montenegro | 5,062 | 1.32 | 0 | –7 | |
| Albanians Decisively | 4,854 | 1.27 | 1 | 0 | |
| Albanian Coalition | 3,394 | 0.89 | 0 | –1 | |
| Croatian Civic Initiative | 1,802 | 0.47 | 1 | 0 | |
| Democratic Alliance of Albanians | 1,542 | 0.40 | 0 | New | |
| Serb Party | 1,201 | 0.31 | 0 | New | |
| Bosniak Democratic Community in Montenegro | 1,140 | 0.30 | 0 | New | |
| Alternative Montenegro | 878 | 0.23 | 0 | New | |
| Party of Serb Radicals | 693 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 | |
| Party of United Pensioners and the Disabled | 672 | 0.18 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 382,706 | 100.00 | 81 | 0 | |
| Valid votes | 382,706 | 98.58 | |||
| Invalid/blank votes | 5,513 | 1.42 | |||
| Total votes | 388,219 | 100.00 | |||
| Registered voters/turnout | 528,817 | 73.41 | |||
| Source: DIK | |||||
Following the elections, all 39 opposition MPs boycotted Parliament from its opening due to claims of electoral fraud and the elections not being held under fair conditions. In mid-February 2017, the opposition announced it would also boycott local elections in the country's second largest municipality, Nikšić, over the government's attempt to prosecute two members of Parliament, Andrija Mandić and Milan Knežević from the right-wing opposition Democratic Front alliance, who had been charged with involvement in a coup plot allegedly planned for election day. [18]
On 9 November 2016, Deputy Prime Minister Duško Marković in Đukanović VI Cabinet (2012-2016) was nominated as new Prime Minister by the president of Montenegro Filip Vujanović, and on 28 November new government was elected by 41 out of 81 members of the parliament (with the entire opposition boycotting the assembly), with the support of Democratic Party of Socialists, Social Democrats of Montenegro and the Bosniak, Albanian and Croatian minority parties. [19]
The Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro is a social-democratic and populist political party in Montenegro. A former long-time ruling party sitting at the opposition for the first time as of 2020, it was formed on 22 June 1991 as the successor of the League of Communists of Montenegro, which had governed Montenegro within the Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia since World War II, and has remained a major force in the country ever since. The party is a member of the Socialist International and the Progressive Alliance, and an associate of the Party of European Socialists. During the 1990s, DPS was the major centre-left, social-democratic party in favour of Serbian–Montenegrin unionism. However, since 1997, the party has embraced Montenegrin independence and has been improving ties with the West, slowly turning into a catch-all party embracing Atlanticism, Montenegrin nationalism, neoliberalism, and pro-Europeanism.
The Socialist People's Party of Montenegro is a political party in Montenegro. It is a social-democratic and socially conservative party, that is positioned on the centre-left on the political spectrum with regard to economic matters. It is supportive of accession of Montenegro to the European Union, and was historically supportive of Serbian–Montenegrin unionism.
An independence referendum was held in Montenegro on 21 May 2006. It was approved by 55.5% of voters, narrowly passing the 55% threshold. By 23 May preliminary referendum results were recognized by all five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, suggesting widespread international recognition if Montenegro were to become formally independent. On 31 May the referendum commission officially confirmed the results of the referendum, verifying that 55.5% of the population of Montenegrin voters had voted in favor of independence. Because voters met the controversial threshold requirement of 55% approval, the referendum was incorporated into a declaration of independence during a special parliamentary session on 31 May. The Assembly of the Republic of Montenegro made a formal Declaration of Independence on Saturday 3 June.
Andrija Mandić is a Montenegrin politician serving as the president of the Parliament of Montenegro since 30 October 2023 and eight-term member of the Parliament. He is the president of the right-wing New Serb Democracy. He was the head of the Democratic Front parliamentary club in the parliament until 2020.
Positive Montenegro was a centrist, social-liberal political party in Montenegro. The party was founded in May 2012 by former environmental activist Darko Pajović.
The Civic Movement United Reform Action, commonly known as simply United Reform Action, or by its abbreviation URA, is a green, socially liberal, and pro-European party in Montenegro. The current party leader is incumbent Prime Minister Dritan Abazović.
A political crisis in Montenegro was initiated by the opposition parties which staged protests requesting fair elections and transitional government. Opposition coalition Democratic Front organised continuous protests in October 2015 which culminated in a large riot in Podgorica on 24 October. A split in the ruling coalition followed in January 2016, leaving the government functioning as a de facto minority government.
Parliamentary elections were held in Montenegro on 30 August 2020. They were the fifth parliamentary in Montenegro since gaining its independence in 2006. Eighty-one members of the Montenegrin parliament were elected. Elections were organized in special conditions, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Montenegro. The parliamentary election was also held simultaneously with the local elections in five municipalities.
Dritan Abazović is a Montenegrin politician who served as Prime Minister of Montenegro and as acting Minister of Foreign Affairs from 2022 to 2023. An ethnic Albanian, he heads the United Reform Action party. He previously served as deputy prime minister in the cabinet of Zdravko Krivokapić from 2020 until 2022.
Democratic Montenegro, also known as the Democrats, is a conservative liberal, centrist, populist and pro-European political party in Montenegro. Democrats currently has nine MPs in the Parliament of Montenegro, elected in 2020, from the big tent Peace is Our Nation (MNN) electoral list. Its founder and current leader is Aleksa Bečić, former President of the Parliament.
The Key Coalition was an opposition political alliance in Montenegro. It was composed of the Democratic Alliance (DEMOS), Socialist People's Party (SNP) and United Reform Action (URA). The main goal of the coalition was to overthrow the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) of Milo Đukanović, which has been in power since 1991. Miodrag Lekić led the joint electoral list in the parliamentary election in October 2016.
In Montenegro, the Opposition is all of the political parties represented in Parliament that are not a part of the Government supported by the parliamentary majority.
Aleksa Bečić is a Montenegrin politician, current Deputy Prime Minister of Montenegro since 2023, who served as the president of the Parliament from 2020 until 2022. He is the founder and current president of the centrist political party Democratic Montenegro.
A coup d'état in the capital of Montenegro, Podgorica was allegedly planned and prepared for 16 October 2016, the day of the parliamentary election, according to Montenegro's special prosecutor. In September 2017, the trial of those indicted in connection with the plot began in the High Court in Podgorica, the indictees including leaders of the Montenegrin opposition and two alleged Russian intelligence agents. Russian government officials denied any involvement. In 2019, the Higher Court found the accused guilty of plotting to commit ″terrorist acts″, also of "undermine the constitutional order of Montenegro" and first instance sentenced 13 people. In February 2021, the appellate court annulled the first instance verdict on all counts of the indictment.
The Marković Cabinet was the 41st cabinet of Montenegro. It was led by Prime Minister Duško Marković. It was elected on 28 November 2016 by a majority vote in the Parliament of Montenegro. The coalition government was composed of the Democratic Party of Socialists, the Social Democrats, and ethnic minority parties. The cabinet lasted until 4 December 2020, when it was succeeded by the Krivokapić Cabinet, and was the last cabinet of the era of DPS dominance, which lasted from the introduction of the multi-party system in SR Montenegro.
The sixth cabinet of Milo Đukanović was the cabinet of Montenegro from 4 December 2012 to 28 November 2016. It was a coalition government composed of centre-left Coalition for a European Montenegro and national minority parties. Split in the ruling DPS-SDP coalition in January 2016, leaving the government functioning as a de facto minority government. The Cabinet was functioning as the provisional government , from 12 May to 28 November 2016, with several Ministers from opposition parties joined the government.
In February 2019, protests began in Montenegro against President Milo Đukanović, Prime Minister Duško Marković, and the government led by the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which has been in power since the introduction of multi-party system in 1990.
Zdravko Krivokapić is a Montenegrin professor and former politician who served as Prime Minister of Montenegro from 2020 to 2022.
Parliamentary elections were held in Montenegro on 11 June 2023. Parliament had been dissolved by President Milo Đukanović just three days before the 2023 presidential elections were held, in which he lost to Europe Now! candidate Jakov Milatović.
Presidential elections were held in Montenegro on 19 March 2023. Long-ruling incumbent president Milo Đukanović was eligible for re-election. Since no candidate received a majority of the vote, a second round vote was held on 2 April. In the first round, Đukanović, leader of the populist DPS, received 35%, coming first. Jakov Milatović, candidate of the newly formed centrist Europe Now! movement, running on an anti-corruption platform, outperformed the polls, gaining 29% of the votes and faced Đukanović in the second round. Andrija Mandić, one of the leaders of the right-wing populist DF secured 19% of the votes, finishing third in the first round. The second round runoff resulted in Milatović defeating Milo Đukanović in a landslide, becoming the first elected president not being a member of the Đukanović's DPS since introduction of the multi-party system in 1990, winning roughly 60% of the popular vote. It was the first time a runoff vote was held since the 1997 election, making it first presidential runoff since Montenegro gained independence in 2006, also the first election since 1997 where an incumbent president actively seeking reelection was denied a second term.
