Milojko Spajic

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis reaffirmed Greece's commitment to supporting the European Union integration efforts of Western Balkan countries during his Wednesday meeting with Montenegro's Prime Minister Milojko Spajic.

A senior US official visited Montenegro Monday to offer support to the small Balkan nation seeking to join the European Union.

During a press conference in the capital Podgorica, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Gabriel Escobar said Montenegro should be next in line to join the 27-nation bloc.

An opposition bloc led by the Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, which was swept from power in 2020 after three decades of uninterrupted rule, came second with 23.8 per cent of votes.

Leader of Europe Now movement Milojko Spajic talks to media after casting his ballot in Podgorica, Montenegro. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

The result confirmed Europe Now's dominance after it took power in the capital, Podgorica, and another town in October last year and its deputy leader, Jakov Milatovic, beat incumbent Milo Djukanovic in April's presidential election.

Electoral campaign billboards in Montenegrin capital Podgorica. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Since then the small Adriatic country has endured almost constant political turbulence and two governments have been ousted.

Podgorica-based University professor Predrag Zenovic said there are expectations that the elections could herald an end to the turmoil.

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.

Montenegrin Minister of Education Vesna Bratic at a pro-government support protests in Podgorica. Photo: Facebook/Milos Vujovic

At the protests, Bratic said that only the current government can sign a fundamental agreement with the Serbian Orthodox Church, and it couldn't be done either by minority parties or the opposition Social Democratic Party and Social Democrats.

The initiative was signed by 31 deputies, and the backbone consists of representatives of the Civic Movement URA headed by Dritan Abazovic.
The motion said they "will not simulate processes, delay and destroy the majority's will of citizens who want stability, reforms and the path to the European Union".

"Everyone must contribute to building a Montenegrin society in which all communities are equal. We must never consent to homophobia, violence and hatred," Danijel Kalezic, head of Queer Montenegro, an NGO, said.

The first phase of Bar Boljare highway in Montenegro. Photo: Government of Montenegro

The Chinese loan for the first phase of Bar-Boljare highway has imposed a heavy burden on Montenegro's public finances.

Minister of Finance and Social Care Milojko Spajic said an arrangement was made with two unnamed US banks and one from France, converting the loan from US dollars to euros.