Its Parliament Montenegro voted for a vote of no confidence in the government. 50 deputies voted for the vote of no confidence, 30 boycotted the process and only one voted against.

“We need elections and a stable government,” said Daniel Zifkovic, the initiator of the vote of no confidence.

The government coalition led by Dritan Abayovich came to power only in April last year and became the most short-lived in the history of the country.

Political tensions have peaked in recent weeks over a controversial deal between the Montenegrin government and the Serbian Orthodox Church over the ownership status of hundreds of monasteries and holy temples in the Balkan country. Many believe that this does not protect the interests of the state.

According to political analysts, Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, who is accused of wanting to nationalize church property, used the deal to destabilize the government and hold early elections.

Montenegrin independence architect Đukanović wants to reduce the influence of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the country at all costs and establish a separate national identity, even if it means creating another independent Orthodox church.

Religious problems in Montenegro, which gained independence from Serbia in 2006, were one of the main reasons for the overthrow of the last two governments.

One third of the country’s 620,000 inhabitants consider themselves Serbs. The Serbian Orthodox Church, which is powerful in Montenegro, is accused by its critics of serving the interests of Belgrade.

^{Sources: APE-MPE, AFP.}