Montenegro: young economist Jakov Milatovic wins the presidential election

Jakov Milatovic, elected new president of Montenegro, during the vote in Podgorica, the country's capital, April 2, 2023. © MARKO DJURICA / REUTERS

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Jakov Milatovic will be the new president of Montenegro. This liberal economist defeated the veteran of Balkan politics, the irremovable Milo Dukanovic, in power for 32 years.

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According to projections by the NGO CeMI covering almost all polling stations, Jakov Milatovic, 36, won in the second round of the presidential election about 60% of the vote, against 40% for his rival who spent three decades at the top of power. "I congratulate the new president Jakov Milatovic," Ana Nenezic, the NGO's director, told reporters.

In the streets of Podgorica, capital of the small Balkan state, and other cities, supporters of the candidate of the "Europe Now" movement celebrated his victory by setting off fireworks and honking their horns.

A supporter of Jakov Milatovic with an old flag of Montenegro. © MARKO DJURICA / REUTERS

Legislative elections in June

The outcome of the vote will weigh heavily on the balance of power in the Adriatic country where early parliamentary elections are called for June 11. It will now be more difficult for Milo Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which had already suffered a historic defeat in the last legislative elections of 2020, to get back on track. The new head of state should have no trouble finding a majority in June. It should confirm the main strategic orientations of the country, a NATO member since 2017 and a candidate for European integration.

While scenes of jubilation spread throughout the country on Sunday night, Montenegro made lie those who played the Cassandra and feared a civil war. On the contrary, it is a democratic and perfectly peaceful alternation, begun during the legislative elections of August 2020, which is ending, analyzes our correspondent in Podgorica, Jean-Arnault Dérens. Far from identity and national rifts, voters now expect an improvement in the economic situation.

► Also listen: Great Report - Montenegro challenges identity tensions

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