| |
Filip Vujanovic
|
Podgorica, Montenegro, May 12, 2003 - Following two unsuccessful elections in the past six months, Montenegro finally has a new president.
According to unofficial election results, the governing coalition’s candidate Filip Vujanovic won 63.3 per cent of the vote at yesterday’s Republic elections.
Thanking all those who have supported him, Vujanovic said: “This time I had one opposition candidate as a rival in the elections and I think this is a positive thing because of the democratic atmosphere”.
He continued: “The number of votes I won proves just how much supremacy the European principle has. I will lead Montenegro into Europe as soon as possible”.
Most analysts have assessed that the elections were held in a fair atmosphere and that this election result had been expected.
Presidential bio
Born in Belgrade in September 1954, Vujanovic spent his school days in Niksic, Montenegro, before graduating Belgrade University’s Law School in 1977.
He was elected Montenegrin Justice Minister in March 1993 and Interior Minister in 1995.
In February 1998 newly elected Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic proposed that Vujanovic be appointed Prime Minister of Montenegro’s temporary government, while extraordinary parliamentary elections be prepared.
Vujanovic accepted that post, before being officially elected in July of the same year following the Democratic Party of Socialists’ victory.
He won a second term as prime minister in July 2001, before being elected Montenegrin Parliamentary Speaker in November 2002.
Following the resignation of President Milo Djukanovic in November last year, Vujanovic, who already held the three most crucial state positions, then became acting Montenegrin President.
Vujanovic has been a member of the Democratic Party of Socialists since its formation. When the party split into two factions in 1997, after a rift formed between Djukanovic and party leader Momir Bulatovic, Vujanovic was one of the first to back Djukanovic.
The new president speaks English and is a married father of 3.
|