Montenegro's politician: Clear message from abroad prevented any abuse of vote

"There were pressure and blackmail, there were more registered voters, but the citizens won in those conditions - in an unprecedented way - "without any incident, without a drop of blood, despite many doubted it would take place peacefully. "

He said he believed that the international factor played the critical role and that the international community sent a clear message that the will of the voters should be respected.

"Montenegro is a NATO member country and a candidate for the European Union membership, and it was essential for such a country to conduct elections peacefully," Medojevic said.

He added there wouldn't be a usual cohabitation with President Milo Djukanovic, whose party lost election though emerging as the strongest single organisation, but without collation capacity.

"This is a specific situation - how the parliamentary majority and new government will behave towards the dictator who is the head of the state," he said, adding that former opposition should first constitute that majority, and then present some strategies and ideas.

"This moment should be used for radical cuts, for total discontinuity with one totalitarian regime," he added.

Medojevic said Montenegrin Constitution gave almost all the power to a government, while a president held some five percent of it.

He added new authorities would face work on reforms but also fight against drug cartels, cigarette smuggling, the grey economy.

Medojevic added he was convinced that they would receive the support of the international community.

He said there would be tensions because "Djukanovic has a lot of money and a lot of power."

Still, he added, his impression was that there had been a clear desire to help a new Montenegrin government from abroad if it would work on reforms and democratic processes.

He said the lustration would be needed to get rid of people who violated the Constitution and laws, became wealthy and enemies of democracy.

"That may be the most difficult thing to do in Montenegro, and for now there is no consensus (among the opposition) on that," Medojevic said, adding he would try to convince his colleagues.

Asked about the attitude towards the media, Medojevic said that they were their allies.

"And if I would have a role le in the fight against crime and corruption, the media will be an integral part of the team in reconstructing and recovery from what Montenegro had been in the last 30 years. That does not mean that they will be our followers or apologists," he said.