Montenegrin PM resigns on health grounds

PODGORICA -- Montenegrin Prime Minister Željko Šturanović tendered his resignation yesterday on medical grounds.

“The medical therapy that I’ve been prescribed for the next few months means, among other things, drastically reducing my workload in that period - at any rate, beneath the level that, to my belief, carrying out this major and responsible function requires," explained Šturanović in a letter to Parliamentary Speaker Ranko Krivokapić.

Last year, Šturanović was diagnosed as having a rare form of tumor on the lung, and he has been going for regular check-ups in the last few days.

The media has recently been speculating that former Prime Minister and leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists Milo Đukanović could take over the post, something that Đukanović has neither denied or confirmed.

The former prime minister resigned last October after securing an overwhelming victory for his coalition at the parliamentary elections, explaining that Montenegrin society required “institutional strength, not authoritative individuals.“

TVCG: Đukanović to take over

Montenegrin state TV (TVCG) announced last night Milo Đukanović would take over from Željko Šturanović as prime minister.

Quoting high-ranking sources within Đukanović’s Democratic Party of Socialists, TVCG claimed that an agreement had been reached and that President Filip Vujanović would ask Đukanović to head the new government.

The DPS leader will present his government’s manifesto and line-up at a parliamentary session on February 15.

He has so far spent three terms as prime minister of Montenegro, and two as president.