Montenegro Govt Wins Confidence Vote After Protests Against NATO Membership

The government of Montenegro headed by Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic has won the confidence vote in parliament (Skupstina) on the third day of debates.

BELGRADE (Sputnik) – Djukanovic, who got the support of his Democratic Party of Socialists of Montenegro (DPS) as well as the opposition Positive Montenegro party, offered Montenegro’s opposition to enter the cabinet in order to bolster stability in the country.

On Monday, the country's national parliament started debates on a vote of confidence in the current government, initiated by the Djukanovic government itself.

The motion came after NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg invited Montenegro to join the military alliance in December, prompting opposition protests.

Standing against Montenegro’s accession to NATO, the opposition demanded Djukanovic’s resignation, called for the formation of a transitional government and new parliamentary elections, as well as a referendum on joining NATO.

In order for early parliamentary elections to be scheduled in the country, 41 or more deputies had to reject the confidence motion. Djukanovic's government won the confidence motion on Wednesday with 42 against 20 votes.