Montenegro’s Ruling Majority Eyes Defeating Djukanovic in Presidential Poll

Presidential candidates Andrija Mandic and Milo Djukanovic billboards in Podgorica, Montenegro. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

The party that dominated Montenegro for almost three decades lost power in the August 2020 elections to an uneasy coalition of three former opposition blocs. The country is currently ruled by Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic's outgoing government, which was toppled last August.

Presidential elections will be held on March 19, with seven candidates running for office, including the incumbent, Djukanovic.

Other candidates are one of the ruling Democratic Front's leaders, Andrija Mandic, the leader of ruling Democratic Montenegro, Aleksa Becic, and Europe Now movement's Jakov Milatovic.

The leader of the small ruling pro-Serb United Montenegro, Goran Danilovic, opposition Social Democratic Party MP Draginja Vuksanovic Stankovic and influencer Jovan Radulovic Jodzir are also running, albeit with outside chances.

University of Belgrade political sciences professor Milos Besic told BIRN that the winner will likely be decided in the second round on April 4.

"Djukanovic will surely pass to the second round, while the finish of the campaign will give the answer about which ruling majority candidate will confront the current president," Besic told the media.

"It's possible that a very small difference will determine [the result[] between Mandic, Becic and Milatovic", he added.

According to the Law on Presidential Elections, the winning candidate must poll more than 50 per cent of counted votes. If none of the candidates passes that threshold, a second round is held after 14 days. The two candidates with the most votes take part the second round.

In order to submit their candidacy to the State...