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.
local community | Registered voters |
voter turnout | Valid yes votes |
Valid no votes |
|||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 .