Montenegro holds extraordinary parliamentary election

BELGRADE, June 11 (Xinhua) -- Polling stations opened across Montenegro on Sunday for the extraordinary parliamentary election, where people will opt among 15 political parties or coalitions.

According to the State Electoral Commission of Montenegro (DIK), 542,468 registered voters are eligible to participate in the voting process at one of 208 polling stations.

Pre-election polls give an advantage to the movement "Europe Now" (29 percent) whose candidate Jakov Milatovic recently became the new president of Montenegro.

The second-ranked in the polls is the coalition around the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) whose leader Milo Djukanovic was defeated by Milatovic in the second round of the recent presidential election.

The extraordinary parliamentary election, the sixth in the history of Montenegro, was called by former president Djukanovic due to the inability of MPs to elect a new government after sacking Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic in a no-confidence vote in August 2022.

The parties and coalitions which exceed the 3 percent threshold will be proportionally represented in the parliament of 81 MP seats, which will be constituted within 15 days upon the publication of final results.

After parliament is constituted, President Milatovic will hold consultations with all parties and coalitions and propose a PM-designate, who will need to propose a new government within 90 days of his nomination.