Incumbent Filip Vujanovic and his only opponent Miodrag Lekic have both proclaimed victory in Sunday’s presidential elections in Montenegro, state radio and TV broadcast RTCG reported. The official results of the central electoral commission, however, will solve the puzzle and they are expected to be published during the day on Monday, April 8.

After polls closed at 8 pm local time on Sunday evening, it was first Vujanovic who announced around 10 pm he won the vote with 51.3% versus 48.7% for his rival Lekic based on the counting of all votes. Half an hour later Lekic’s headquarters announced it was actually Lekic who grabbed the majority of 50.5% versus 49.5% for Vujanovic.

Vujanovic is a member of governing DPS party of PM Milo Djukanovic, while Lekic who is competing as an independent is supported by the opposition Democratic Front. Both sides called on citizens to be patient and wait for the official results before celebrating. Lekic, however, warned he will seek out a legitimate election result and will not allow his election victory to be stolen. He added he would ask for international observers to step in and help solve the situation.

Furthermore, Lekic’s headquarters say there have been some irregularities at two polling stations in the northeastern town of Rozaje. DPS responds that even if the results of these two stations are cancelled or elections there repeated, this would not impact the final countdown, under which Vujanovic has 2.5 percentage points more than his rival.

Yet, considering the close result and somewhat lower voter turnout any vote might be critical for the the two rivals.

According to unofficial estimates of the municipalities, the turnout for the day was 64%, which is some four percentage points less than in the previous vote in April 2008 (when Vujonovic won 51%).