New Montenegro government wins confidence vote

BELGRADE, Serbia

Montenegro’s Parliament on Friday approved a new coalition government with Zdravko Krivokapic as prime minister.

Following three days of debate, 70 out of 81 lawmakers voted on the issue, with 41 of them supporting the new government.

The government includes the For the Future of Montenegro alliance, led by the Democratic Front (DF), together with the Peace is Our Nation and Black on White coalitions.

Prime Minister Krivokapic, from the For the Future of Montenegro alliance, thanked all lawmakers for their support, asserting that the new Cabinet will operate in a disciplined manner in the interests of the country.

Other names in the new cabinet are Dritan Abazovic as deputy prime minister, Djordje Radulovic as foreign minister, Sergej Sekulovic as interior minister, and Olivera Injac as defense minister.

Milojko Spajic will serve as finance minister, Vesna Bratic is minister of education, science, culture and sports, while Jelena Borovinic Bojovic has been named as health minister.

Jakov Milatovic is the minister of economic development, Mladen Bojanic is minister of capital investments, and Tamara Srzentic is minister of public administration, digital society and media.

Ratko Mitrovic is Montenegro’s new environment and urbanization minister, Aleksandar Stijovic is the minister of agriculture, forestry and water Affairs, along with Vladimir Leposavic as justice and minority rights minister.

Montenegro held a general election on Aug. 30 that saw the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which ruled the country for 30 years, winning a majority of votes but losing majority in parliament.

President Milo Djukanovic’s pro-Western DPS won 30 seats in the national legislature, while the opposition For the Future of Montenegro alliance, which leans more towards Russia and Serbia, secured 27 seats.