Civic

In the second round of the election, preliminary results put Milatovic far ahead on 60 per cent of the counted votes while Djukanovic won 40 per cent.

Milatovic had the support of the ruling majority parties, while Djukanovic was supported by the smaller opposition Bosniak Party and two ethnic Albanian parties.

Montenegro's Deputy MP Dritan Abazovic (right) and Vanja Calovic Markovic (left) at a press conference in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

Projections suggest Montenegro might have enough oil and gas out at sea to cover its own needs. It signed a concession contract in 2016 and officials say the first exploratory drilling might take up to six months.

But local residents and environmental activists are worried.

"There is no vision," said Natasa Kovacevic of the NGO Green Home.

Civic activists supported by most opposition parties in Montenegro have kept up the pressure on the government, demanding the resignation of the country's top leaders, starting with President Milo Djukanovic, and focusing on alleged corruption in their ranks.