Montenegrin referendum

[Harry Hayfield]

BBC NEWS ALERT

Montenegro 'chooses independence' 
 
Montenegro has voted for independence from its union with Serbia, according to unofficial projections.

If confirmed, the vote would erase the last vestige of the former Yugoslavia.

Initial indications are that 56.3% of voters elected to secede from Serbia. The pro-independence bloc needs to win 55% of the vote to succeed.

The question of independence has deeply divided Montenegro, with its opponents arguing that it will damage economic, family and political ties with Serbia.

[NewFederalist]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

[they don't love you like i love you]

They'll just continue with the government they have now, which I think is a semi-Presidential system a la France. Both Serbia and Montenegro have their own Presidents and Parliaments, there's also a President and Parliament for the full union, but that has very little power compared to the two seperate ones, as I said the union is rather uneccesary now, and only came into existance because some people weren't willing to accept the idea that Yugoslavia wasn't going to completely fall to shreds.

[Middle-aged Europe]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

I assume that it'll be the same form of government they have now...

Montenegro has been quasi-independent for some time and the referendum probably just formalized it. Well, they will have their own national soccer team now, but aside form this it won't make much difference.

Or are there plans to scrap their current constitution?

[Blerpiez]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

I assume that it'll be the same form of government they have now...

Montenegro has been quasi-independent for some time and the referendum probably just formalized it. Well, they will have their own national soccer team now, but aside form this it won't make much difference.

Or are there plans to scrap their current constitution?

What happens to the national soccer team now? 

[Middle-aged Europe]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

I assume that it'll be the same form of government they have now...

Montenegro has been quasi-independent for some time and the referendum probably just formalized it. Well, they will have their own national soccer team now, but aside form this it won't make much difference.

Or are there plans to scrap their current constitution?

What happens to the national soccer team now? 

The Montenegrin part of the team secedes from the Serbian part?

[2952-0-0]

Does this affect the future of Kosovo too?

[afleitch]

Preojected lead by the Yes camp now 0.3%

[they don't love you like i love you]

Does this affect the future of Kosovo too?

No, Kosovo is part of Serbia. This won't have much effect as the link between Serbia and Montenegro isn't all that strong at the moment anyway. Of course Serbia doesn't have any real control over Kosovo at the moment either, but that also means calls for full independence will become weaker.

[freek]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

I assume that it'll be the same form of government they have now...

Montenegro has been quasi-independent for some time and the referendum probably just formalized it. Well, they will have their own national soccer team now, but aside form this it won't make much difference.

Or are there plans to scrap their current constitution?

What happens to the national soccer team now? 

The Montenegrin part of the team secedes from the Serbian part?

Will that mean that the Dutch will have to play matches against both Serbia and Montenegro on the World Cup next month.

[ag]

So far, we have two projections by monitor groups: yes getting 56.3% or 55.3% - both extremely close to the 55% threshold. I'd wait for the official results.

Kosovo is not directly affected by this, but I actually think if Montenegrin independence goes through it does increase chances of Kosovo's de facto independence being formalized sooner.

[Middle-aged Europe]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

I assume that it'll be the same form of government they have now...

Montenegro has been quasi-independent for some time and the referendum probably just formalized it. Well, they will have their own national soccer team now, but aside form this it won't make much difference.

Or are there plans to scrap their current constitution?

What happens to the national soccer team now? 

The Montenegrin part of the team secedes from the Serbian part?

Will that mean that the Dutch will have to play matches against both Serbia and Montenegro on the World Cup next month.

I'm pretty sure it will take more than a month for the outcome of the referendum to come into effect.

[minionofmidas]

What form of government will they choose? Are there any plans for a restoration?

I assume that it'll be the same form of government they have now...

Montenegro has been quasi-independent for some time and the referendum probably just formalized it. Well, they will have their own national soccer team now, but aside form this it won't make much difference.

Or are there plans to scrap their current constitution?

What happens to the national soccer team now? 

It'll remain one until after the 2008 Euros, since the draw for the qualification groups for that is already past. There are two Montenegrins on Serbia-M's 23 member squad for the World Cup.

[minionofmidas]

Rumour has it with 90-odd % counted it's 55.5% yes. The opposition seems to believe that figure to be correct too, apparently.
Official results, including partial results, won't be released until the count's completed, later today.

[Jake]

It'll remain one until after the 2008 Euros, since the draw for the qualification groups for that is already past. There are two Montenegrins on Serbia-M's 23 member squad for the World Cup.

Hope they enjoy their last World Cup.

[Јas]

BBC reports 55.4% Yes vote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/5003220.stm

[ag]

Montenegrin Radio-TV

RRK: CRNA GORA NEZAVISNA DRŽAVA

Za nezavisnost Crne Gore glasalo je 55,4 odsto izašlih bira?a, a 44,6 izjasnilo se protiv, saopštila je Republi?ka referendumska komisija ,saopštavaju?i prve preliminarne rezultate.

REPUBLICAN REFERENDUM COMMISSION: MONTENEGRO IS AN INDEPENDENT STATE

For independence of Montenegro voted 55.4% of the voters, 44.6% voted against, informed the Republican Referendum Commission, informing on the first preliminary results.

By the way, why is it that in English we use the Italian translation of the country's name?  I guess, Crna Gora sounds too barbarian

[ag]

Centar za Monitoring is ahead of the Referendum Commission. They claim to have tallied all the polling stations. Thus, final, if not official results are:

for independence – 55.52%; for the Union: 44.48%. Total turnout: 86.35%.

[WMS]

And the mapmakers of the world can rejoice, because now they have a reason to sell new atlai.

[minionofmidas]

And the mapmakers of the world can rejoice, because now they have a reason to sell new atlai.

Atlantes.

[minionofmidas]

By the way, why is it that in English we use the Italian translation of the country's name?  I guess, Crna Gora sounds too barbarian

Well we also tend to use the Italian name for Kerkyra/Corfù, and used to do so for a number of places around there (Ragusa/Dubrovnik, Zante/Zakynthos, Cefalù/Kephallonia, Durazzo/Durres, etc)

[minionofmidas]

Results by Opstina...

yes wins               no wins                 yes wins by insufficient margin
Rozaje 91.3          Pluzine 75.7          Podgorica 53.9
Ulcinj 88.5            Andrijevica 72.3     Danilovgrad 53.6
Cetinje 86.4         Herceg Novi 61.3   Budva 53.3
Plav 78.9              Zabljak 61.3          Niksic 52.6
Bar 63.7               Pljevlja 63.7
Tivat 56.4             Kolasin 57.8
Kotor 55.7            Savnik 56.9
Bijelo Polje 55.6   Mojkovac 56.1
                            Berane 52.8

[minionofmidas]

Looks as if ethic Albanians carried Crna Gora to independence. What do they call Montenegro in Albanian?

[ag]

Not only Albanians, but also Slavic Muslims, methinks.

[minionofmidas]

Not only Albanians, but also Slavic Muslims, methinks.

Might be. I know a couple of Sandzakis here in Frankfurt - in fact the mother of one of my best friends is married to one - maybe I should ask him.

Then again, he's never struck me as politically interested in the least.