PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) – Several thousand people gathered in Montenegro on Monday, accusing the new country’s new government of being pro-Serbian because of its plans to amend a religious property law that is strongly opposed to the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Carrying Montenegrin flags and chanting “Betrayal”, protesters gathered in front of the parliament building in Podgorica, the capital, where lawmakers intend to discuss the proposed changes.
The demonstration was the first major protest in the small Balkan country against the coalition government that came to power after the opposition won a weak majority over a long-running pro-Western party during the August parliamentary elections.
Religious property law was an issue in the election. The Serbian Orthodox Church claimed that the law was designed to strip the church of its properties, which the previous government denied. The church led months of protests that helped strengthen the opposition before the election.
Montenegro has declared independence from the union with Serbia following a referendum in 2006. The country’s people remain divided over relations with Belgrade. About 30% of Montenegrins identify as Serbs, and the Serbian Orthodox Church enjoys the most persecution of any organized religion.
The previous government, led by the Socialist Democratic Party, removed Montenegro from the influence of Serbia and Russia. The Adriatic nation joined NATO in 2017 and is seeking membership in the European Union.
Participants in Monday’s demonstration exploded the new government’s plan to repeal parts of the religious property law. They accused the government of preparing the “occupation” of Montenegro.
It was not clear immediately when the parliamentary vote on amending the law would take place.
Despite calls to join the measures to reduce the spread of coronavirus, protesters crowded in, many without masks. Montenegro reported 666 virus deaths in a nation of 620,000 people.