Montenegro’s ruling party has won the most votes in a crucial parliamentary election, according to projections, but without enough votes to govern alone. Unofficial results after 80 percent of the ballots had been counted showed that Prime Minister Milo Djukanovic’s Democratic Party of Socialists got a little more than 40 percent of the vote – more than double than that of the main opposition Democratic Front. Polls closed at 18:00 GMT, and according to Al Jazeera’s Milica Marinovic, who is reporting from the capital Podgorica, the voter turnout was over 70 percent, slightly higher than the previous parliamentary election in 2012. Sunday’s tense election was marked by the arrest of 20 Serbs accused of planning to carry out armed attacks after the closing of the polls.
Authorities said those arrested planned to collect automatic weapons to attack state institutions, police and possibly state officials following Sunday’s key vote that could determine whether Montenegro continues on its Western course or turns back to traditional ally Russia.
The prosecutor’s office said the group of Serbs, who were arrested on Saturday, planned to assault people who would gather in front of the parliament when the vote results were proclaimed, then storm the building in Podgorica and declare the victory “of certain parties” in the election.
Full Article: Montenegro’s ruling party ‘leads’ in crucial elections – News from Al Jazeera.
