Montenegrin parliamentary election, August 2020

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Author (Corporate)
Publication Date 2020
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Summary:

Reports, analyses and information related to the legislative election taking place in Montenegro on 30 August 2020.

Further information:

The 81 seats in the national parliament are elected in a single nationwide constituency using closed list proportional representation. There is a 3% electoral threshold, but minority groups that account for no more than 15% of the population in a district are given an exemption that lowers that threshold for a maximum of three seats. A separate exemption is given to ethnic Croats. This was the fifth parliamentary election in Montenegro since the country acquired its independence. This election was held with specific measures in the framework of the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic.

The election campaign was marked by considerable polarisation among the population, following a number of corruption scandals involving members of the ruling DPS party and following controversy related to a religion law put forward by the cabinet. Montenegro's President Milo Đukanović - also the DPS leader - has been widely regarded as the dominant political figure in the country.

The ruling party won the election (35.06%) but did not manage to guarantee an overall parliamentary majority alongside its allies. The opposition blocs gathered a majority altogether, spearheaded by the conservative ZBCG coalition (32.55%). The main opposition coalitions agreed on 31 August 2020 to form a government to bring DPS dominance to an end. On 1 September, Mr Đukanović recognised the electoral defeat of his party.

Related Links
Commentary and Analysis
Wikipedia: 2020 Montenegrin parliamentary election https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Montenegrin_parliamentary_election
IFES Election Guide: Election for Montenegrin Assembly https://www.electionguide.org/elections/id/3327/
Balkan Insight: Analysis, 06/08/2020: Opposition Faces Uphill Battle in Looming Montenegro Election https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/06/opposition-faces-uphill-battle-in-looming-montenegro-election/
Euronews, 28/08/2020: In Montenegro, a divided nation chooses between east and west https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/28/in-montenegro-a-divided-nation-chooses-between-east-and-west
The Economist, 29/08/2020: Serbian Orthodox priests say Montenegro’s government backs satanists https://www.economist.com/europe/2020/08/29/serbian-orthodox-priests-say-montenegros-government-backs-satanists
Euronews, 02/09/2020: Montenegro election: Who are the triumphant opposition factions and what do they stand for? https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/02/montenegro-election-who-are-the-triumphant-opposition-factions-and-what-do-they-stand-for-
CSIS: Blog, 03/09/2020: The Winds of Political Change in Montenegro https://www.csis.org/blogs/european-election-watch/winds-political-change-montenegro
Balkan Insight, 04/09/2020: Europe’s Liberals Should Cut Montenegro’s Transition Some Slack https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/04/europes-liberals-should-cut-montenegros-transition-some-slack/
LSE: EUROPP Blog, 08/09/2020: Seizing the democratic opportunity in Montenegro https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/europpblog/2020/09/08/seizing-the-democratic-opportunity-in-montenegro/
openDemocracy: Can Europe Make It?, 08/09/2020: Electoral glimpse of hope in Montenegro https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/can-europe-make-it/electoral-glimpse-hope-montenegro/
Euronews: View, 10/09/2020: With power within reach, this is what Montenegro's new coalition government needs to do first https://www.euronews.com/2020/09/10/this-is-what-montenegro-s-new-coalition-government-needs-to-do-first-view

News
Euronews, 21/02/2020: Unholy row exposes deep divisions in Montenegro https://www.euronews.com/2020/02/21/unholy-row-exposes-deep-divisions-in-montenegro
AP News, 20/06/2020: Montenegro to hold parliamentary election on Aug. 30 https://apnews.com/e82d74c910396dcbd44cf9d92645b3b9
EurActiv, 22/06/2020: Montenegro calls polls for August despite virus return https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/montenegro-calls-polls-for-august-despite-virus-return/
Balkan Insight, 22/07/2020: Church Accuses Montenegro of Abusing Talks on Disputed Law https://balkaninsight.com/2020/07/22/church-accuses-montenegro-of-abusing-talks-on-disputed-law/
Balkan Insight, 23/07/2020: Army of ‘Phantom Voters’ Casts Doubt over Fairness of Montenegro Vote https://balkaninsight.com/2020/07/23/army-of-phantom-voters-casts-doubt-over-fairness-of-montenegro-vote/
Balkan Insight, 17/08/2020: Montenegro Election Commission Uses Ruling Party Activist’s Software https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/17/montenegro-election-commission-uses-ruling-party-activists-software/
Balkan Insight, 18/08/2020: Opposition Cries Foul as Albanian Diaspora Voters Head for Montenegro https://balkaninsight.com/2020/08/18/opposition-cries-foul-as-albanian-diaspora-voters-head-for-montenegro/
France24, 30/08/2020: Montenegro voters face choice between pro-EU ruling party and pro-Russian opposition https://www.france24.com/en/20200830-montenegro-voters-face-choice-between-pro-eu-ruling-party-and-pro-russian-opposition
Euronews, 31/08/2020: Montenegro's ruling party could be ousted from power for first time in 30 years https://www.euronews.com/2020/08/30/montenegro-parliamentary-election-kicks-off-with-high-turnout
BBC News, 31/08/2020: Montenegro election: Opposition parties eye tiny majority https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-53965744
Deutsche Welle, 31/08/2020: Montenegro election: Djukanovic's DPS leads with slim margin https://p.dw.com/p/3hlLx
EurActiv, 31/08/2020: Montenegro’s pro-Western ruling party falls short of majority after election https://www.euractiv.com/section/enlargement/news/montenegros-pro-western-ruling-party-falls-short-of-majority-after-election/
Reuters, 03/09/2020: Montenegro president accepts his party lost election https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN25U1QA
Reuters, 06/09/2020: Thousands protest against pro-Serb rallies in Montenegro https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN25X0VR
Balkan Insight, 09/09/2020: Montenegro Coalition Leaders Agree on ‘Pro-European’ Course https://balkaninsight.com/2020/09/09/montenegro-coalition-leaders-agree-on-pro-european-course/

Official
OSCE: ODIHR: Montenegrin Parliamentary Elections, 30 August 2020 https://www.osce.org/odihr/elections/montenegro/457741
EU EEAS: Montenegro: Statement by High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell and Commissioner Olivér Várhelyi on the elections (1 September 2020) https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/84608/

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