In the presidential elections in Montenegro, 13 percent of the voters voted by 35,8:XNUMX p.m., more than the previous ones
- In the presidential elections in Montenegro, 13 percent of the citizens voted by 35,8 p.m., which is a few percent more than the previous presidential elections in 2018, according to the data of the Monitoring Center (CEMI), a non-governmental organization that monitors the elections.
According to the data of that organization, in the previous presidential elections, 13 percent of voters exercised their right to vote by 32,8 p.m.
CEMI announced that the highest turnout was in the central region, 38 percent, in the north it was around 37 percent, while 30,7 percent of citizens with the right to vote voted in the southern region.
Today, Montenegro is electing its president from among seven candidates, and citizens can exercise their right to vote until 20 p.m.
Observers found minor irregularities during voting and reported the use of mobile phones at polling stations, photos of ballots, which voters publish on social networks, which is a violation of the secrecy of voting.
Citizens report to the observers of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) "that even today they receive unsolicited phone calls from the headquarters of the candidates, from where they persistently invite them to vote for days."
"We appeal to the candidates at least today to allow citizens to vote without harassment, the campaign is over and this can only be characterized as unnecessary pressure on the voters," the statement of the non-governmental organization that monitors the elections states.
The polling stations were opened at 7 am, and 542.154 citizens have the right to vote.
The candidates of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Milo Djukanović, the Democratic Front (DF) Andrija Mandić, the democrat Alexa Bečić, from the Europe Now Movement (PES) Jakov Milatović, the leader of United Montenegro (UCG) Goran Danilović, the MP of Social Democratic Party (SDP) Draginja Vuksanović Stanković and influencer Jovan Radulović.
This is the fourth presidential election since the restoration of the independence of Montenegro and the eighth since the introduction of the multi-party system.
The candidate who receives more than half of the valid votes of the voters who voted will be elected as the President of Montenegro.
If no candidate receives the required number of votes, the second round of the elections will be held in 14 days, ie on April 2.
The two candidates who won the most votes take part in the second round.
The president of the state will be elected for a term of five years.
The first preliminary results are announced for 21:XNUMX.
According to public opinion polls, the second round of the elections is certain, in which Milo Djukanovic is expected to enter, while Mandic, Becic and Milatovic are fighting for the opponent.
In addition to observers from local non-governmental organizations, the elections are being monitored today by observers from the OSCE mission, the Council of Europe and the European Parliament's observation mission, which is led by the rapporteur for Montenegro, Tonino Pizzula.
