Milo Djukanovic

Still awaiting the final results of the Sunday's presidential election, both the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists party, DPS, and the opposition are hurriedly turning attention to the local election in Podgorica, which could be the most important poll this year.

Independent - Montenegro has continued on course for European Union membership after the country's voters overwhelmingly brought back a veteran pro-EU politician to be their new president.

Political heavyweight Milo Djukanovic, bidding to take Montenegro into the European Union, swept back into power in April 15's presidential election after a two-year absence.

Milo Djukanovic, who has dominated politics in Montenegro as president and prime minister for almost three decades, is running for another presidential term as voters cast their ballots in Sunday's election.

After sacking two members of the national broadcaster's managing council, drawn from the ranks of civil society, over  alleged conflicts of interest, Montenegro's parliament on Friday appointed their successors.

NGOs and activists voiced dismay over the appointments of former journalist Goran Sekulovic - considered close to the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS.

Montenegro's main opposition alliance, the Democratic Front, accused the court and prosecution in Podgorica of negligence, alleging that Sasa Sindjelic had been allowed to abscond so he can avoid serving a 21-year jail sentence in Croatia.

The Democratic Front claimed on Monday that Sindjelic has left the country and is reportedly in Serbia.

Former Serbian Gendarmerie Commander Bratislav Dikic, who is on trial in Montenegro over the alleged coup attempt of October 2016, started refusing food, water, and medical assistance on Wednesday.

Two months before the presidential election in Montenegro, it is still unknown who the main candidates in the race will be.

The main parties are all pondering their options, waiting to see if Montenegro's veteran leader, Milo Djukanovic, returns once again to frontline politics.

Montenegro will hold presidential elections on April 15, after the speaker of parliament officially called the elections on Friday.

"I believe that elections will be held in a positive and democratic atmosphere and that we, all together, will prove why Montenegro is a leader in the region," Brajovic said, according to Radio Free Europe, RFE.

Montenegro's largest opposition group, the Democratic Front, says it will return to parliament, a move which would end a collective opposition boycott that began after elections in October 2016, which government opponents claim were fraudulent.