Podgorica - Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic on Thursday designated Milo Djukanovic again to head the country's government and extend his premiership to more than two decades. Djukanovic would focus on "effects of the global economic crisis, further affirmation of Montenenegro ... and its integration" with NATO and the European Union, Vujanovic said making the announcement in the nation's old capital, Cetinje.
The coalition led by Djukanovic's Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) won an absolute majority in early polls in March, shattering the effectively non-existent opposition.
Now 47, Djukanovic has governed Montenegro since 1991, stepping out of the prime minister's office only during one five-year presidential term and after the 2006 elections, when he said he wanted to devote himself to his business interests.
But even then he returned after only 18 months, early in 2008, replacing his ailing heir-apparent, Zeljko Sturanovic.
Montenegro is facing hard times after the explosion of an economic bubble which last year saw the financial market decline dramatically and the crucial real-estate market crash.
The banking sector is tottering on the verge of instability and the main exporters, such as the aluminium combine KAP is facing bankruptcy.
