Ex-economy minister Jakov Milatovic won the presidential runoff election in Montenegro on Sunday.

Milatovic defeated incumbent Milo Djukanovic who has been in power for more than three decades in the small NATO member nation in Europe

Backed by Montenegro’s governing majority, Milatovic won around 60% in the vote Sunday while Milo Djukanovic won around 40%, according to local reports.

“I am absolutely sure of victory and convinced that from tonight Montenegro is in the full sense of the word - FREE!” Milatovic wrote on Facebook.

Jakov Milatović served as the minister of economy and economic development in the Montenegrin cabinet of Zdravko Krivokapić from 4 December 2020 until 28 April 2022. (ILKHA)