Independence referendum in Montenegro in 2006

On 21st May 2006 found one referendum held that over the independence of the Republic of Montenegro by the international community Serbia and Montenegro decided. With a turnout of 86.39% or 419,240 out of a total of 485,280 registered voters in 2006, the necessary 55 percent majority was just exceeded with a result of 55.49% (230,661). 44.51% or 185,002 voted no and were in favor of Montenegro remaining on the side of Serbia in the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro. The dissolution took place on June 3, 2006 with the declaration of independence by the Montenegrin parliament in Podgorica . The Serbian parliament in Belgrade followed suit on June 5, 2006 with the factual declaration of the legal succession of Serbia-Montenegro by Serbia. As the successor state of Serbia-Montenegro, Serbia did not declare itself to be independent, as it did not initially recognize Montenegro as an independent state. Montenegro was only recognized by Serbia on June 15, 2006; both states are thus finally independent.

As a prerequisite for the diplomatic recognition of a Republic of Montenegro, the European Union stipulated that at least 55% of the voters should support state independence. If at least 45% of the population rejected the independence of the previous state, the federation would have continued to exist. If the referendum had failed, no further referendum should have been held on this issue within a year.

From a historical point of view, the referendum finally sealed the collapse of Yugoslavia , the last remaining confederation of which was formally renamed Serbia and Montenegro in 2003. With the detachment of Montenegro, Serbia became a landlocked country with no access to the sea.

Constitutional background

The 2002 constitution of Serbia and Montenegro provided for rules on secession referenda: According to Article 25 of the constitution, one of the two states was only allowed to declare independence after a period of three years after its ratification . The same article states that the referendum is necessary for this step. However, this constitution also states that the two signatory member states have the right to draft laws that affect such a referendum.

The constitution of Serbia and Montenegro also stipulates that the member state that wants to leave the federal government forfeits all associated rights of political and legal continuity. From a legal point of view, the remaining part was the successor state of Serbia and Montenegro. Specifically, this means that the state that leaves the federation must reapply to all major international institutions such as the United Nations and must be recognized by the international community.

On June 15, 2006, Serbia recognized the independence of Montenegro and on June 28, 2006, Montenegro became the 192nd member state of the United Nations.

Results

The following table shows the results by municipality.

Results by municipalities

local community	Registered voters	voter turnout		Valid yes votes		Valid no votes
local community	number	number	%	number	%	number	%
Andrijevica	4,369	3,928	89.91	1,084	27.74	2,824	72.26
bar	32,255	26,382	81.79	16,640	63.67	9,496	36.33
Berane	28,342	24.051	84.86	11,268	47.17	12,618	52.83
Bijelo Polje	40.110	35.051	87.39	19,405	55.69	15,437	44.31
Budva	12,797	11.199	87.51	5,915	53.32	5,179	46.68
Danilovgrad	11,784	10,669	90.54	5,671	53.71	4,887	46.29
Žabljak	3,407	3,096	90.87	1,188	38.67	1,884	61.33
Kolasin	7,405	6,820	92.10	2,852	42.22	3,903	57.78
Kotor	17,778	14,897	83.79	8,200	55.70	6,523	44.30
Mojkovac	7,645	6,923	90.56	3,016	43.93	3,849	56.07
Nikšić	56,461	50,737	89.86	26,434	52.63	23,790	47.37
Plav	12,662	8,941	70.61	7,016	78.92	1,874	21.08
Plužine	3,329	2,959	88.89	716	24.30	2,230	75.70
Pljevlja	27,882	25,268	90.62	9.115	36.28	16.009	63.72
Podgorica	129,083	113.915	88.25	60,626	53.67	52,345	46.33
Rožaje	19,646	15,239	77.57	13,835	91.33	1.314	8.67
Tivat	10,776	8,800	81.66	4,916	56.45	3,793	43.55
Ulcinj	17.117	13,985	81.70	12,256	88.50	1,592	11.50
Herceg Novi	24,487	20,220	82.57	7,741	38.66	12,284	61.34
Cetinje	15,077	13,538	89.79	11,532	86.38	1,818	13.62
Šavnik	2,306	2.123	92.06	906	43.08	1,197	56.92
Prison inmates		495		379	77.82	108	22.18
Montenegro as a whole	484.718	419.236	86.49	230.711	55.50	184,954	44.50

Individual evidence

↑ Publication on the 2006 referendum
^ Wording of the declaration of independence of June 3, 2006, Montenegrina: Digitalna biblioteka crnogorske kulture i nasljeda
↑ Montenegro gets Serb recognition. BBC News, June 15, 2006, accessed May 21, 2015 .
^ Annan, General Assembly welcome Montenegro as 192nd UN Member State. United Nations, June 28, 2006, accessed May 21, 2016 .
↑ REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO REFERENDUM ON STATE-STATUS 21 May 2006 ANNEX A: FINAL RESULTS OF THE 21 MAY 2006 REFERENDUM ON STATE-STATUS. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE, August 4, 2006, accessed May 21, 2016 .

[1] Publication on the 2006 referendum

[2] Wording of the declaration of independence of June 3, 2006, Montenegrina: Digitalna biblioteka crnogorske kulture i nasljeda

[3] Montenegro gets Serb recognition. BBC News, June 15, 2006, accessed May 21, 2015 .

[4] Annan, General Assembly welcome Montenegro as 192nd UN Member State. United Nations, June 28, 2006, accessed May 21, 2016 .

[5] REPUBLIC OF MONTENEGRO REFERENDUM ON STATE-STATUS 21 May 2006 ANNEX A: FINAL RESULTS OF THE 21 MAY 2006 REFERENDUM ON STATE-STATUS. Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, OSCE, August 4, 2006, accessed May 21, 2016 .