Political novice ousts veteran in Montenegro presidential vote

Pro-Western incumbent Milo Djukanovic waves after voting at a polling station in Montenegro’s capital Podgorica (AP)

A crushing defeat for Montenegro’s long-serving leader Milo Djukanovic in a weekend presidential election heralds his final departure from the small Balkan state’s political scene after more than 30 years in power, analysts have said.

Economy expert and political novice Jakov Milatovic won the presidential run-off election on Sunday, defeating Mr Djukanaovic, who led Montenegro to independence from much larger Serbia in 2006 and to Nato membership in 2017, despite strong opposition from former Slavic ally Russia.