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 (77 seats, elected by direct vote for four-year terms) elections: last held 21 October 2002 (next to be held October 2006) election results: percent of vote by party - Democratic List for a European Montenegro 48%, Together for Change 38%, Liberal Alliance of Montenegro 6%; seats by party - Democratic List for a European Montenegro (DPS 30, SDP 7, other 2), Together for Change (SNP 19, SNS 6, NS 5), Liberal Alliance of Montenegro 4, other 4

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 Filip VUJANOVIC

Head of Government

Prime Minister Milo DJUKANOVIC

Cabinet

Ministries act as cabinet

Elections

president elected by direct vote for five-year term (eligible for a second term); election last held 6 April 2008 (next to be held in 2013); prime minister proposed by president, accepted by Assembly

Election Results

Filip VUJANOVIC reelected president; Filip VUJANOVIC 51.89%, Andrija MANDIC 19.55%, Nebojsa MEDOJEVIC 16.64%, Srdan MILIC 11.92%

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