The coalition led by Milo Djukanovic, the prime minister, won more than half the votes cast in the Montenegro's parliamentary elections yesterday, preliminary results said.

Mr Djukanovic led the tiny ex-Yugoslav republic to independence via a referendum to end joint statehood with Serbia in 2006. By reaching the 51 per cent mark, his coalition rises from 41 seats to 49 in the 81-seat parliament, with voters showing their preference for familiar leadership as recession hits the fragile economy.