November 28 (SeeNews) - Montenegro's prime minister-designate Dusko Markovic said on Monday the new government awaiting approval by parliament targets annual economic growth rate of between 3.5% and 4.0% through encouraging investments in infrastructure and improving business environment.
During his inaugural speech in parliament, Markovic explained that the membership of Montenegro in NATO and the European Union (EU) will be the top priorities of the new cabinet, the government said in a statement.
"We have an ambitious goal that by the end of 2019, i.e. before the end of the term of this government, which coincides with the end of the term of the current European Commission, we close all chapters in the negotiation process," Markovic pointed out.
Later on Monday, parliament is expected to endorse Markovic as prime minister of a coalition government led by the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), the winner of the general elections held in October.
According to local media reports, the government coalition has secured the support of 42 of the 81 members of parliament and will be formed by DPS, the Bosniak Party (BS), the Social Democrats of Montenegro (SD), Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI), and Albanci Odlucno political alliance.
Dragica Sekulic was named economy minister, and the finance ministry would be led by the managing director of Prva Banka Crne Gore, Darko Radunovic, according to public broadcaster RTCG. Milutin Simovic, Zoran Pazin and Rafet Husovic are expected to be named deputy prime ministers.
Opposition MPs boycotted Markovic's inaugural speech, as they refuse to recognise the results of the general election due to alleged manipulations.
DPS won 41.41% of the vote in the general election in October, securing 36 seats in parliament. BS and SD have two seats each. HGI and Albanci Odlucno have one seat each.
BS and SD said last week they decided to form a government coalition with DPS of long-standing prime minister Milo Djukanovic.