Ja James Milatovic took over as Montenegrin president

I swear to do the duty of president responsible, honor, conscience, justice and impartiality. Under the Constitution and law”, Milatovic said in Montenegro's Parliament's plenary Hall, marking the beginning of his five-year presidential mandate.

In his inaugural speech, Milatovic said he was honored and proud to take office by taking the oath:

I will be a real president of all citizens, regardless of their national, political or religious affiliation”.

The current moment has historical character, the new Montenegrin president said, saying changing the political structure and consolidating democracy fuels hope that in a cheaper environment, open issues will be resolved for Montenegro's future.

About 200 personalities participate in the inauguration, whether at the swearing-in ceremony held in Montenegro's Parliament, including officials from neighbouring countries, ambassadors and special envoy of the United States. [ Footnote] U.S.A.], Gabriel Escobar.

Montenegrin Parliament deputies, representatives of the government, justice bodies, as well as Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, who Milatovic firmly defeated in the second round of presidential elections in early April, are present at the ceremony.

The central part of Podgorica's city has been blocked since morning, as well as the way to the airport.

Following the intonation of the national anthem, the oath of Milatovic and his inaugural speech, ceremonial military greetings will be held in the Plato before Parliament.

After that, Milatovic will host guests at a lunch, while in late afternoon hours, in the state-owned Gorica villa, he and his wife will receive about 700 guests.

Among them will be Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic, Kosovo President Vjosa Osmani, Albania's president, Bajram Begaj, meanwhile from the Bosnia and Herzegovina Presidency present will be Zelko Cvianovic and Zelko Komsic.

Although there has been no confirmation until the morning of Saturday, Serbian President Allexander Vuciq has arrived in Montenegro and will participate in Milatovic's inauguration.

Vuciq, in his profile in the Instagram, has confirmed his arrival in Montenegro, posting photos with New Serbian Democracy leaders (NOVA) Andrija Move and Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knezevic, from one morning in Zeta near Podgorica.

Of European officials, Oliver Ropke, president of the European Commission's European Economic and Social Committee, already from Great Britain and Germany, special envoys to the Western Balkans, Stuart Pich and Manuel Saracin.

Montenegro's president is elected every five years, while all previous inaugurations were made in Cetina.

Jaje Milatovic, 37-year-old, is the first president who is not from Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), who had power for three decades until August 2020, when he lost the election.

Milatovic, one of the leaders of the movement “Europe now”, founded a year ago, has been in Montenegrin politics for three years when he was appointed minister of the first government after moving by DPS power.

In the presidential race, he had the backing of the ruling parties, the pro-Russian Democratic Front, Democrats and the civic movement URA.

Since the early 1990s, Djukanovic has been prime minister six times and twice president of Montenegro.

After losing power in parliamentary elections nearly three years ago, His DPS also lost elections in Podgorica in October. After losing in presidential elections, Djukanovic resigned from the post of party chairman.

In recent days, Djukanovic and Milatovic held two meetings as part of the duty surrender procedure, after which they stressed that Montenegro is a good example of the democratic transition of power.

The change of state head comes ahead of extraordinary parliamentary elections scheduled for 11 June. They were announced because of the institutional crisis that prevented European integration.

Since the shift of power, for nearly three years, two governments have fallen, while trying to elect a third was unsuccessful. In that period, ethnic tensions have been marked.

During Djukanovic's powers, Montenegro voted for the country's independence in the 2006 referendum. In 2010, Montenegro became a candidate for membership in the European Union, and already in 2017, it entered NATO. / REL/