Zdravko Krivokapić

But Vanja Calovic-Markovic, head of the anti-corruption NGO MANS, said the results so far were underwhelming.

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic at a government session. Photo: Government of Montenegro

"This would cause great tensions and lead to pre-census campaigns and would negatively affect the quality of all the other data. Also, international standards say that population censuses should be avoided in turbulent socio-political periods," said Ivana Vujovic from the NGO Juventas.

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic and his deputy Dritan Abazovic in parliament. Photo: Government of Montenegro

Krivokapic said that economic stability and European Union membership must be the key goals of the new government - which unlike the current non-partisan cabinet, will be made up of political party officials, as the Democratic Front and Democratic Montenegro have demanded.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic and the ruling majority MPs in the parliament. Photo: Government of Montenegro

In a joint statement on Thursday, the Democratic Front, DF, and Democratic Montenegro said the new cabinet should have both non-party and party ministers.

Reshuffling the Cards

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic and Deputy PM Dritan Abazovic in a police camp training. Photo: Government of Montenegro

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic and Deputy PM Dritan Abazovic at a police training camp. Photo: Government of Montenegro

With four seats in parliament, Abramovic's civic Black on the White coalition is the smallest member of the 41-member ruling coalition, which has a majority of one in the 81-seat chamber.

Montenegrin government session in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro

"The Montenegrin Statistical Office will hold the census of Montenegrin citizens and of foreigners living in Montenegro who have permanent or temporary residence in Montenegro. Among other things, data on ethnicity, language and religion will be collected," the draft law proposal says.

The investigation will establish details and facts about security threats during the enthronement of Metropolitan Joanikije in Cetinje, Montenegrin Deputy Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic said today, adding that a major security threat to the SPC leader was real, which the patriarch confirmed with his statement.

Serbian Orthodox Church Metropolitan Joanikije is enthroned in Cetinje Monastery, Montenegro. Photo: Serbian Orthodox Church

Police used tear gas to break up the protests, while media reported that the former head of the police, Veselin Veljovic, was among those arrested.

Montenegrin PM Zdravko Krivokapic (left) with police officials. Photo: Government of Montenegro

Krivokapic filed his criminal complaint against Veljovic on Wednesday for calling on police officers to support protests during the Orthodox Church ceremony in Cetinje, the old royal capital of Montenegro