Montenegro’s president dissolves parliament, sets stage for early elections

Montenegro’s president, who is running for re-election later this week, dissolved parliament on Thursday, paving the way for early parliamentary elections in the near future.

President Miloš Jokanovic issued a decree dissolving parliament three months after Montenegro’s government fell in a no-confidence vote and after lawmakers failed to elect a new one.

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Jokanovic is expected to set a date for an early election on Friday.

Montenegrin President Miloš Jokanovic has dissolved parliament ahead of possible early elections. (AP Photo/Risto Bojovic)

Presidential elections are being held in Montenegro on Sunday. Analysts predict the polling will not produce a clear winner and will face one of several challengers in a runoff two weeks later.

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His opponents include candidates from several parties in the pro-Serbian coalition.

Jokanovic and his Democratic Party of Socialists won Montenegro independence from Serbia in 2006 and NATO in 2017. But facing corruption charges, the party lost the 2020 parliamentary election to a coalition of parties seeking closer ties with Serbia and Russia.

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The ruling coalition has since been in disarray, creating a political impasse that stalled Montenegro’s bid to join the European Union.