6 minutes agoDjukanovic announces candidacy for third term as president
Periskopi(3 years ago)
(3 years ago)Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic officially announced candidacy for a third term in presidential elections next month. He has held top political positions for the past 30 years. The 19 March elections will be held while the country is involved in a one-year political stalemate with two no-confidence votes [...]
The 19 March elections will be held as the country is involved in a one-year political stalemate with two no-confidence votes for two governments and disagreements between lawmakers and Mr. Djukanovic for the appointment of a newly appointed prime minister.
Political relief in Montenegro has long been divided into the pro-Montenegrin force, which includes Mr Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists and pro-Serbian and pro-Russian ones.
The president's post is largely ceremonial in Montenegro, but a victory by Mr. Djukanovic could trigger early parliamentary elections after presidential elections because he has so far refused candidates proposed for the prime minister's post.
“I am entering the election race with the aim of winning quickly and convincingly,” said Mr. Djukanovic on Saturday as he presented his candidacy to the election authorities.
“Montenegro is completely paralyzed to move forward on the European road and this agony should stop as soon as possible,” said President Djukanovic, who led Montenegro towards independence from the Serbia-Montenegro union in 2006, secured NATO membership and placed it on the path to membership in the European Union.
Opposers accuse Mr. Djukanovic and his party of corruption and links to organised crime -- charges Mr. Djukanovic and his party deny.
The state electoral commission has already approved two other presidential candidates -- Andrija Mandic from the ethnic Serb party New Serb Democracy and Draginje Vuksanovic Stankovic of the Social Democratic Party.
