Government and Politics of Montenegro

Government Type

Republic

Administrative Divisions

21 municipalities (opstini, singular - opstina); Andrijevia, Bar, Berane, Bijelo Polje, Budva, Cetinje, Danilovgrad, Herceg Novi, Kolasin, Kotor, Mojkovac, Niksic, Plav, Pluzine, Pljevlja, Podgornica, Rozaje, Savnik, Tivat, Ulcinj, Zabljak

Legal System

based on civil law system

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Citizenship

citizenship by birth: no citizenship by descent only: at least one parent must be a citizen of Montenegro dual citizenship recognized: no residency requirement for naturalization: 10 years

Executive Branch

chief of state: President Jakov MILATOVIC (since 20 May 2023) head of government: Prime Minister Milojko SPAJIC (since 31 October 2023) cabinet: Ministers are nominated by the prime minister and approved by the Assembly of Montenegro elections: president elected by direct popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held on 19 March and 2 April 2023 (next to be held in 2028); prime minister nominated by the president following legislative elections and must secure a majority in the Assembly election results: Jakov MILATOVIC elected president in the second round; Jakov MILATOVIC 58.9%, Milo DJUKANOVIC 41.1%

Legislative Branch

Unicameral Assembly (Skupština; 81 seats; members elected by direct popular vote using a proportional representation system to serve four-year terms) Elections: Last held on 11 June 2023 (next scheduled to be held in 2027) Election results: Percent of vote by party/coalition — Europe Now Movement (PES) 25.5%, For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) 23.2%, Europe Now 2 coalition 12.5%, Democrats/Civic Movement URA coalition 11.5%, Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) 11.0%, Social Democrats (SD)/Liberal Party (LP) 4.8%, Bosniak Party/Croatian Civic Initiative/Albanian Alternative coalition 3.3%; seats by party/coalition — Europe Now Movement 24, For the Future of Montenegro 23, Europe Now 2 coalition 11, Democrats/Civic Movement URA coalition 9, Democratic Party of Socialists 8, Social Democrats/Liberal Party 4, minority and other parties 2

Judicial Branch

Constitutional Court (five judges with nine-year terms); Supreme Court (judges have life tenure)

Political Parties

Democratic Party of Socialists or DPS [Milo DJUKANOVIC]; Liberal Alliance of Montenegro [Vesna PEROVIC]; People's Party of Montenegro or NS [Predrag POPOVIC]; Serbian People's Party of Montenegro or SNS [Andrija MANDIC]; Social Democratic Party or SDP [Ranko KRIVOKAPIC]; Socialist People's Party or SNP [Predrag BULATOVIC]

Head of State

President Jakov MILATOVIC

Head of Government

Prime Minister Milojko SPAJIC

Cabinet

Ministries act as cabinet

Elections

Last held on 11 June 2023 (next scheduled to be held in 2027)

Election Results

Percent of vote by party/coalition — Europe Now Movement (PES) 25.5%, For the Future of Montenegro (ZBCG) 23.2%, Europe Now 2 coalition 12.5%, Democrats/Civic Movement URA coalition 11.5%, Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) 11.0%, Social Democrats (SD)/Liberal Party (LP) 4.8%, Bosniak Party/Croatian Civic Initiative/Albanian Alternative coalition 3.3%; seats by party/coalition — Europe Now Movement 24, For the Future of Montenegro 23, Europe Now 2 coalition 11, Democrats/Civic Movement URA coalition 9, Democratic Party of Socialists 8, Social Democrats/Liberal Party 4, minority and other parties 2. These results reflect the June 2023 parliamentary elections, in which the Europe Now Movement, led by Prime Minister Milojko Spajić, emerged as the leading political force. No single party secured an outright majority in the 81-seat Assembly, necessitating coalition negotiations to form a governing government.

Constitution

12 October 1992 (was approved by the Assembly)

Independence

3 June 2006 (from Serbia and Montenegro); note - a referendum on independence was held 21 May 2006

National Holiday

National Day, 13 July

International Organization Participation

UN, OSCE

Capital City

Podgorica; note - Cetinje retains the status of "Old Royal Capital"

Location

42 26 N, 19 16 E

Time Difference

UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

History

the name translates as "beneath Gorica"; the meaning of Gorica is "hillock"; the reference is to the small hill named Gorica that the city is built around

U.S. Embassy Podgorica Dzona Dzeksona 2 81000 Podgorica Telephone: 382 20 410 500 E-mail: PodgoricaACS@state.gov

Military Branches

Armed Forces of the Republic of Montenegro: Army of Montenegro (includes Montenegrin Navy (Mornarica Crne Gore, MCG)), Air Force

Service Age and Obligation

18 is the legal minimum age for voluntary military service; no conscription