The ruling pro-European coalition that led the tiny Balkan state of Montenegro to independence convincingly won early parliamentary elections, an independent vote monitoring group said.

Filip Vujanovic won Montenegro’s first presidential elections since it split from Serbia two years ago, according to an independent vote monitoring group.

Montenegro’s state electoral commission today confirmed the victory of a pro-independence bloc in a referendum to secede from Serbia and form a separate state.

Independence backers declared victory at Montenegro’s vote on secession from Serbia, although the unionists refused to concede defeat.