Montenegro Cabinet to Push for Vote of Confidence Over NATO Membership

Montenegro’s Cabinet of Ministers will submit to the parliament a request for a vote of confidence over NATO membership.

BELGRADE (Sputnik) — Montenegro’s Cabinet of Ministers will submit to the parliament a request for a vote of confidence within two weeks, amid a dispute considering the country joining NATO, according to a statement on the government's website.

"[Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic] announced that the Cabinet will submit to the Parliament of Montenegro a request for a vote of confidence in the Government. The Prime Minister expects the request to be filed within a period not exceeding 15 days," the statement posted on Monday reads.

NATO issued a formal invitation to join the military bloc to Montenegro on December 2, which Podgorica accepted the following day. The decision triggered protests in the capital, with some 5,000 opponents taking to the streets. The protesters have called for Djukanovic's resignation.

President of the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Ilkka Kanerva explained to Sputnik on December 3 that inviting Montenegro to join the alliance was part of NATO's efforts to stabilize the Balkans.