BELGRADE, April 28 (Xinhua) -- The Montenegrin parliament of 81 MPs on Thursday elected a new government led by Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, with 45 votes in favor and three against.

Almost three months after the cabinet of former prime minister Zdravko Krivokapic was removed with a no-confidence vote on Feb. 4, Abazovic, the leader of the United Reform Action movement (URA), has formed a cabinet of 18 ministers. This includes two ministers without portfolio, and four Deputy PM posts.

Under Abazovic's program, the new government will look to improve the rule of law and accelerate economic development, prioritizing the "integration process and Montenegro's EU membership."

The country will attempt a "major diplomatic campaign for fast-track EU accession," Abazovic announced in his speech prior to the vote.

On March 3, Abazovic, 36, received a mandate from President Milo Djukanovic to form a new government.

The minority government was supported by URA, the Socialist People's Party of Montenegro, the Social Democratic Party, and minority parties of Albanians and Bosniaks, as well as 30 MPs of the former ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) led by Djukanovic.

Although DPS, Montenegro's former ruling party, still occupies most MP seats, they will remain in opposition and will not occupy any ministerial posts.

The new government will have six new ministries: the ministry of European affairs, ministry of sport and youth, ministry of labor and social welfare, ministry of culture and media, ministry of human and minority rights, and ministry of science and technological development.

At the beginning of Thursday's session, the parliament elected Danijela Djurovic as the new speaker.

However, 33 MPs, mostly from Serbian minority parties, boycotted the session. Enditem

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