By PREDRAG MILIC
Associated Press
PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) - Montenegro's pro-Western ruling party leader Milo Djukanovic has won an outright victory in the country's presidential vote, avoiding a runoff, according to official results released Monday.
A near-complete vote count showed that Djukanovic won 54.0 percent of the ballots while his main opponent, Mladen Bojanic, had 33.3 percent, Montenegro's state election authorities said.
Lawmaker Draginja Vuksanovic, the first-ever female presidential candidate in the staunchly conservative, male-dominated Balkan nation on the Adriatic Sea, came in third with 8.2 percent.
Sunday's vote, the first since Montenegro joined the NATO Western military alliance in December, was seen as a test for Djukanovic, who favors European integration over closer ties to traditional ally Moscow.
Djukanovic led Montenegro to independence from much-larger Serbia in 2006 and was behind last year's accession into NATO, which Slavic ally Russia strongly opposed.
He said Sunday that his victory means Montenegro will stick to its plan to join the European Union next.
Djukanovic has dominated Montenegrin politics for nearly 30 years, serving both as president and prime minister in several governments. Analysts predicted he will add weight to the largely ceremonial presidency. Incumbent President Filip Vujanovic did not run due to term limitations.
"His authority overcomes that of a president and I am certain that Djukanovic will have a much more important role than previous presidents," analyst Milos Besic said on the state TV Montenegro.
Opposition have accused Djukanovic of corruption and blamed the government led by his ruling Democratic Party of Socialists for a spike in crime-related violence.
In his victory speech late Sunday, Djukanovic promised to work to overcome divisions within Montenegro, where many still cherish close ties with Moscow.
Djukanovic was prime minister during a tense October 2016 parliamentary election when authorities said they thwarted a pro-Russian coup attempt designed to prevent the country from joining NATO.
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(AP Foto/Risto Bozovic). Milo Djukanovic, ex primer ministro de Montenegro y líder del Partido de los Socialistas Democráticos, habla durante un festejo tras los comicios presidenciales en Podgorica, la capital de Montenegro, el domingo 15 de abril de ...
(AP Photo/Risto Bozovic). Supporters of Montenegro's former prime minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic hold Montenegro and party flags out of a car while celebrating after presidential elections in Montenegro's...
(AP Photo/Risto Bozovic). A supporter of Montenegro's former prime minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic holds his picture during a celebration after presidential elections in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, Su...
(AP Photo/Risto Bozovic). Montenegro's former prime minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic opens a bottle of champagne during a celebration after presidential elections in Montenegro's capital, Podgorica, Sunday,...
(AP Photo/Risto Bozovic). A supporter of Montenegro's former prime minister and long-ruling Democratic Party of Socialists leader Milo Djukanovic holds an American flag during a celebration after presidential elections in the Montenegro capital of Podg...