Montenegrins to vote on independence in May

On 21 May, Montenegrins will decide in a referendum whether to part from Serbia to set up Europe’s newest independent state. The rules of the vote have been agreed.

The referendum on Montenegro’s independence from Serbia has been set for 21 May by the government and the opposition forces. The parliament was expected to rubberstamp the deal. Under the agreement, the scheduled local elections will be put off until the autumn of 2006 top coincide with the parliamentary elections. 

In the referendum, Montenegro’s 650,000 citizens will decide whether to declare independence from Serbia or to keep the three-year-old state union. A ‘yes’ vote would mean the birth of Europe’s newest state.

Under the referendum rules proposed by the EU and accepted by all parties, at least 55% of over half the electorate should cast their ballots for independence in order for the referendum to be valid. 

The EU’s referendum envoy, Miroslav Lajcak, has said that the agreement on the referendum rules shows a high level of responsibility that Montenegro officials have for their state. 

According to recent opinion polls, around 41% of Montenegrins are in favour of independence, while 32% oppose it. Analysts say the results are likely to be close.

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