Prime Ministers of Montenegro

Presidential candidate and incumbent President Milo Djukanovic at the polling station in Podgorica. Photo: EPA-EFE/BORIS PEJOVIC

The longest-serving leader in Europe lost the presidential elections by a large margin to 36-year-old political rookie and Europe Now candidate Jakov Milatovic.

History in the Making?

Montenegrin president Milo Djukanovic at the polling station in Podgorica. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Montenegro's ruler of three decades, Milo Djukanovic, is in a pickle. April 2 could become a historic day if he loses in the second round of the presidential elections and gets voted out of power.

Montenegro's everlasting-seeming leader Milo Djukanovic will try to mobilize the important minority vote to prevent his likely loss in the second round of presidential elections.

Presidential elections later in March could be a sink-or-swim moment for Djukanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialists as they battle to reverse their declining fortunes.

Election billboard for presidential candidate Milo Djukanovic in the Montenegrin capital Podgorica. Photo: BIRN/Samir Kajosevic

Presidential elections will be held in Montenegro on March 19, with seven candidates running for the office including the incumbent Milo Djukanovic.

PODGORICA/BELGRADE- The Montenegrin government recognised the so-called Kosovo's self-declared independence despite opposition from over 85 pct of citizens at the time, Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic said on Wednesday, noting that, if it was up to the people of Montenegro, the decision would be withdrawn immediately.

Montenegrin Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic (left) and head of National Security Agency Savo Kentera (right) in Budva. Photo: Atlantic Council of Montenegro

The ANB told media that Montenegro is in what it called a hybrid war at the moment.

The Parliament of Montenegro voted a vote of no confidence in the government of Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, reported AFP.

The agency notes that this opens the way for new political upheavals in the small Balkan state. The previous coalition government was also voted out in February.

President Rumen Radev is on an official visit to Montenegro. He was welcomed today by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic at the presidential palace in the historic capital of Cetinje.

Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic (L) and Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic (R) in Podgorica. Photo: Government of Montenegro