| Parliament name (generic / translated) |
Skupstina / Parliament |
| Structure of parliament |
Unicameral |
| BACKGROUND |
| Dates of election / renewal (from/to) |
29 March 2009 |
| Purpose of elections |
Elections were held for all seats in Parliament following the premature dissolution of Parliament on 26 January 2009. The elections had previously taken place on 10 September 2006. |
On 26 January 2009
Parliament approved the Government's proposal to dissolve parliament. The following day
President Filip Vujanovic called elections for 29 March
18 months earlier than they were constitutionally due.
In the previous elections held in September 2006
three months after Montenegro gained independence from the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro
the Coalition for a European Montenegro (DPS-SDP) led by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic won 41 seats in the 81-member Parliament. The Coalition comprised the Prime Minister's Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Social Democratic Party (SDP). The Serb List - comprising the Serb People's Party (SNS)
the Serbian Radical Party (SRS)
the Democratic Party of Unity (DSJ) and the People's Socialist Party (NSS) - took 12 seats. The SNP-NS-DSS Coalition - comprising the Socialist People's Party (SNP)
the People's Party (NS) and the Democratic Serb Party (DSS) - won 11 seats
as did the Movement for Change (which had opposed the country's independence). The remainder went to small parties.
A country of 650
000 inhabitants
Montenegro saw a rise in gross domestic product (GDP) of 10.7 per cent in 2007 and 8 per cent in 2008
mainly thanks to the tourism sector. It applied for membership of the European Union (EU) in December 2008. That same month
the International Monetary Fund said the country's GDP growth would drop to two per cent in 2009 and 2010.
Although the major political parties had agreed that elections would be called in late 2009
in January 2009 Prime Minister Djukanovic proposed early elections on the grounds that the country needed a new government and parliament to implement a series of reforms relating to its bid for EU membership. Vice Premier Igor Luksic said the accession process should be managed by a government and parliament with a full four-year term. Opposition parties such as the SNP
the NSS and the Movement for Change criticized the early elections
arguing that the ruling coalition wanted to secure re-election before the global economic crisis struck the country. The Prime Minister underscored that his government was taking measures to spare the country from the worst consequences of the crisis.
Six coalitions and eight parties contested the 2009 elections.
Prime Minister Djukanovic again led the Coalition for a European Montenegro (DPS-SDP). He was seeking a sixth term as prime minister (including one term served before the country's independence). He pledged to preserve the stability of the economy and urged voters to opt for economic prosperity and a European future. He promised more investment in infrastructure such as a north-south highway and in the tourism and energy sectors. President Filip Vujanovic (DPS) urged voters to support projects that would help the country "overcome the consequences of the economic crisis".
The opposition forces remained fragmented. The NS of Mr. Predrag Popovic and the DSS led by Mr. Ranko Kadic announced that they would contest the elections as a NS-DSS-Populist Coalition
separately from the SNP. The SNP
a pro-EU party led by Mr. Srdan Milic
announced that it would run on its own instead of forming an electoral coalition with the Movement for Change. The SNP promised to provide welfare benefits for the most vulnerable citizens. Mr. Nebojsa Medojevic's Movement for Change argued that renewing the mandate of the ruling DPS-SDP would enhance the risk of corruption. Dissidents of the Movement for Change formed the Democratic Centre (DC) under the leadership of Mr. Goran Batricevic. The DC subsequently formed a coalition with the Liberal Party (which had been in coalition with the Bosniak Party in the 2006 elections). The SNS and the NSS formed New Serb Democracy (NOVA) under the leadership of Mr. Andrija Mandic. The NOVA focused on the economy rather than a pro-Serbian agenda
promising to provide remedies to the country's import-dependent economy.
The 2009 election campaign was reportedly calm
unlike in previous elections. The local media attributed this to voter apathy. Pre-election polls indicated that the ruling DPS-SDP would secure a majority of the votes.
On 29 March
66.19 per cent of nearly 500
000 registered voters turned out at the polls.
Over 200 international observers monitored the polls. The OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe)
which led an international election observation mission
concluded that the vote had "met almost all international commitments and standards"
but underscored the "need for further democratic development"
stating that "lack of public confidence remained a key challenge".
The Coalition for a European Montenegro (DPS-SDP) won 48 seats
while the SNP took 16. The NOVA won eight seats
followed by the Movement for Change with five seats. The remainder went to small parties.
On 23 April
the newly elected Parliament held its first session. On 6 May it re-elected Mr. Ranko Krivokapic (SDP) as its Speaker.
On 7 May
President Filip Vujanovic appointed Mr. Djukanovic as Prime Minister. On 11 June
the parliament endorsed Mr. Djukanovic's new government
comprising the DPS-SDP and the Democratic Union of Albanians
which took one seat. |
| STATISTICS |
| Voter turnout |
| Round no 1 | 29 March 2009 |
Number of registered electors
Voters
Blank or invalid ballot papers
Valid votes |
498'305
329'819 (66.19%)
5'827
323'992 |
|
Notes
|
|
| Distribution of votes |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Candidates |
Votes |
|
|
% |
|
|
| Coalition for a European Montenegro (DPS-SDP) |
|
168'290 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Socialist People's Party (SNP) |
|
54'547 |
|
|
|
|
|
| New Serb Democracy (NOVA) |
|
29'883 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Movement for Change |
|
19'546 |
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Union of Albanians |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Coalition of the Democratic League of Albanians (LDSh) and Albanian Alternative (AA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| New Democratic Power (FORCA) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Albanian Coalition - Perspective |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats |
|
Round no 1
|
| Political Group |
Total
|
|
|
|
|
| Coalition for a European Montenegro (DPS-SDP) |
48
|
|
|
|
|
| Socialist People's Party (SNP) |
16
|
|
|
|
|
| New Serb Democracy (NOVA) |
8
|
|
|
|
|
| Movement for Change |
5
|
|
|
|
|
| Democratic Union of Albanians |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Coalition of the Democratic League of Albanians (LDSh) and Albanian Alternative (AA) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| New Democratic Power (FORCA) |
1
|
|
|
|
|
| Albanian Coalition - Perspective |
1
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to sex |
Men
Women
Percent of women |
72
9
11.11%
|
| Distribution of seats according to age |
|
|
|
| Distribution of seats according to profession |
|
|
| Comments |
| Source: Parliament (28.04.2009
01.01.2010
12.01.2012) |
Compare data for parliamentary chambers in the Last elections module
