EU welcomes initial results of Montenegro's snap elections

BELGRADE, Serbia

The European Union on Monday welcomed the preliminary results of Montenegro's snap elections to choose members of its next legislative assembly.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano said at a press conference that any government that emerges as a result of the elections will proceed on the path to EU accession.

"We are confident that Montenegro will maintain its current course (of full alignment with Brussels’ foreign policy) even with the new government and continue on the path to EU integration," said Stano.

He added that Montenegro is a candidate country that is 100% compatible with the EU's foreign policy.

The Europe Now party led by Montenegro's President Jakov Milatovic declared victory on Sunday in snap elections to choose members of the next legislative assembly.

According to data from the State Election Commission, Europe Now won 25.6% of the vote and 23 seats based on 94.7% of the counted votes.

The pro-Western Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which had been in power for decades, along with its traditional ally the Liberal Party (LP), the Albanian Coalition and the Social Democrats won 23.9% of the vote and 22 seats.

The For the Future of Montenegro coalition won 13 seats with 14.8% of the vote, the Aleksa and Dritan coalition won 12.3% and 11 seats, the Bosniak Party (BS) won 6.8% and six seats, the Socialist People's Party (SNP)-Democratic Alliance (Demos) won 3% and two seats, the Albanian Forum Coalition won 2% and two seats, the Albanian Alliance won 1.5% and one seat, and the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI) won 0.6% and one seat.

The turnout was 56.7% based on 542,468 registered voters.

Montenegrin voters headed to the polls on Sunday to choose members of their next legislative assembly in snap parliamentary elections.

Voters in the small Balkan country with a population of 619,211 determined the members of the 81-seat parliament in the sixth general election since the country transitioned to a multiparty system in 1990.

Fifteen coalitions and parties competed as polls opened at 7 a.m. local time and closed at 8 p.m.