On the night of Saturday, August 20, the government of Montenegro, led by Prime Minister Dritan Abazovic, passed a vote of no confidence by an overwhelming majority, according to the Montenegrin Assembly website. This came less than three weeks after the signing of an agreement between Montenegro and the Serbian Orthodox Church (SOC).

Under the agreement signed by Prime Minister Abazovich and Serbian Patriarch Porfiry, the legal status of the SOC in Montenegro was approved, proper property guarantees were given, and some of its special rights were abolished.

controversial deal

According to Abazovich, the agreement adopted was supposed to help resolve all the church’s disputes regarding the ownership of the SOC in Montenegro in order to be able to focus on other important issues. Critics believe that, apart from other religious communities, there was no need for a special agreement with the SOC.

government crisis

It remains unclear whether the fall of the government will lead to early parliamentary elections or whether the parties that make up the Montenegrin Assembly will try to form a new ruling coalition.

Dritan Abazovic, 36, headed the government in Podgorica on April 28, 2022. Like Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, he is considered a pro-Western politician.

After Montenegro left the state union with Serbia in 2006, the Belgrade authorities tried to increase their influence in Montenegro, using the SOC as well as local pro-Serb political parties and organizations.

Montenegro, with a population of around 620,000, has been a member of NATO since 2017 and seeks to join the EU, which is hampered by political differences in the Balkan country. The SOC is the most influential religious organization in Montenegro.