Montenegro’s new government headed by Milo Đukanović gets voted in

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Podgorica, Montenegro (4 December 2012) -- Montenegro’s new government, headed by Prime Minister Milo Đukanović, was inaugurated in the Parliament late this evening, by a majority vote of 44 in favour, 26 against and one abstention.

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Đukanović outlined an action plan based on new initiatives aimed at improving the living standards, promoting legal certainty and advancing freedoms and democratic rights. To this end, the new Government’s top policies will be focused on economic recovery, continuation of reforms and further efforts towards NATO and EU accession, he pointed out.

According to PM Đukanović, the recovery of the Montenegrin economy, through restored growth, is an essential part of the new government’ s agenda, which is expected to improve the quality of life of the citizens in three major aspects - creation of new jobs, better health care and better education.

“In its four-year term, the Government will be primarily focused on improving the quality of life of Montenegrin citizens. In parallel, and as a prerequisite, we have to promptly restore the sustainability of public finances by balancing revenues and expenditures, tolerating in the mid-term a deficit equivalent to the cost of carefully selected investment priorities. All the measures undertaken will be aimed at enhancing the desirable diversification of Montenegro’s economic structure, with a particular focus on putting into use the energy resources, food production resources and development of processing industry clusters. This will make the system more stable and more sustainable, which will, in turn, enable better use of all Montenegro’s potentials through the development of high quality tourism and services,” he explained.

Montenegro has to generate a larger GDP, Mr Đukanović emphasised. To this end, creating a more attractive business environment for foreign investments is crucial, in order to implement the costly development projects involving new infrastructure, construction of energy facilities, new roads, food production and processing industry development.

“We must fight for investors. In that respect, I wish to particularly stress the importance of a competent, accountable and professional administration, strengthening the rule of law, transparency and accountability in both public and private sector... Therefore, the simplification of procedures, improving the business environment and removing barriers to starting or developing businesses, especially those that create new jobs, will be a continuous task of the new government,” Montenegro’s newly elected Prime Minister noted.

The new government stands ready to continue the EU accession talks, the Prime Minister said. “The government's agenda fully corresponds with Europe 2020 – Europe's growth strategy: employment growth, investments in research, development and education, poverty reduction, and environmental protection.“

In Prime Minister’s Đukanović’s words, the government will be focussed on stepping up Euro-Atlantic integration efforts, as Montenegro is expected to make a decisive step towards NATO membership during the new government’s mandate.

“Strengthening the rule of law, that is, the fight against organised crime and corruption, will remain the focus of the new government. The detailed actions plans for the negotiation chapters 23 – judiciary and fundamental rights, and 24 justice, freedom and security, will be presented to the European Commission and EU member states next year, with a view to opening the talks at an early stage. That will, at the same time, be a good reference for the forthcoming NATO membership,“ Prime Minister Đukanović concluded.

The composition of the new Cabinet

The Đukanović Cabinet has introduced leadership changes in nine portfolios, while the number of Deputy Prime Ministers has increased from two to four. Mr Đukanović is Montenegro’s fourth prime minister since the country regained independence in 2006.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration IGOR LUKŠIĆ (formerly Prime Minister)

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Minister DUŠKO MARKOVIĆ (incumbent)

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Information Society and Telecommunications VUJICA LAZOVIĆ (incumbent)

Deputy Prime Minister RAFET HUSOVIĆ (formerly Minister without Portfolio)

Interior Minister RAŠKO KONJEVIĆ (Vice President of the Social Democratic Party)

Finance Minister RADOJE ŽUGIĆ (formerly Governor of the Central Bank of Montenegro)

Defence Minister MILICA PEJANOVIĆ - ĐURIŠIĆ (incumbent)

Economy Minister VLADIMIR KAVARIĆ (incumbent)

Minister of Transport IVAN BRAJOVIĆ (formerly Interior Minister)

Minister of Tourism and Sustainable Development BRANIMIR GVOZDENOVIĆ (formerly Political Director of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists)

Agriculture Minister PETAR IVANOVIĆ (formerly Director of the Montenegrin Investments Promotion Agency)

Education and Sports Minister SLAVOLJUB STIJEPOVIC (incumbent)

Science Minister SANJA VLAHOVIĆ (incumbent)

Minister of Labour and Social Welfare PREDRAG BOŠKOVIĆ (formerly Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Coal Mine in Pljevlja)

Health Minister MIODRAG RADUNOVIĆ (incumbent)

Culture Minister BRANISLAV MIĆUNOVIĆ (incumbent)

Human and Minority Rights Minister SUAD NUMANOVIĆ (formerly Minister of Labour and Social Welfare)

Minister without Portfolio MARIJA VUČINOVIĆ (President of the Croatian Citizens’ Initiative)