Opposition Eyes Takeover in Montenegrin Capital

The leader of the main opposition Democratic Front, Miodrag Lekic, on Thursday said negotiations with the Socialist People's Party and the coalition of the Social Democratic Party and Positive Montenegro on forming an authority in the capital would start after June 10.

The ruling Democratic Party of Socialists, DPS, which has run the capital since 1991, won most votes in Podgorica's local elections held on May 25.

However, although it won most votes, the party of the Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic will not be able to form a local government on its own.

The DPS won 29 of the 59 seats in Podgorica's local assembly. The opposition Socialist People's Party and the Democratic Front together won 25 seats, while the SDP's alliance with Positive Montenegro won five.

The SDP, which remains Djukanovic's partner in government - but has been in opposition at the local level in Podgorica since 2010 - will play the kingmaker's role. Forming a majority in the capital is not possible without it.

Media reports said that Lekic had already held preliminary talks with the leaders of the SNP and the SDP, Srdjan Milic and Ranko Krivokapic, and is convinced that the forces advocating change can form a majority in Podgorica.

"Such a scenario could bring democratic dynamic of great importance for real progress in the capital, but also in the whole country. It will be difficult, but I believe in such a scenario simply because it is progressive," Lekic told the daily newspaper, Dan.

Sunday's elections were marked by numerous irregularities at polling stations and on electoral rolls, local watchdogs reported.

The NGO MANS and  the Center for Democratic Transition said a number of abuses in the election process occurred in...