Montenegro's pro-Serbian governing coalition collapses

Montenegro’s conservative pro-Serbian coalition government has collapsed amid internal disputes, after parliament backed a no-confidence motion tabled by a junior coalition partner

Montenegro Government (Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

Montenegro's conservative pro-Serbian governing coalition collapsed Friday amid internal disputes, after parliament backed a no-confidence motion tabled by a junior coalition partner.

Lawmakers voted 43-11 in favor of the motion against Prime Minister Zdravko Krivokapic's government following weeks of political deadlock. Other lawmakers in the 81-seat parliament either abstained or left the session before the vote.

Krikokapic, a university professor who is close to the Serbian Orthodox Church, has headed an ideologically-mixed coalition that included pro-Serbian groups — as well as smaller parties which are not happy with the pace of reforms needed for the small country's bid to join the European Union

Friday's vote came less than two years after Krikokapic' coalition came to power, replacing a long-ruling pro-Western party

Coalition partners were at odds over several issues, including the influence of Serbia's populist administration and its church in Montenegro's domestic affairs. Montenegrins remain deeply divided over joining the EU, or seeking closer ties with neighboring Serbia and its ally Russia

Seeking to break the political stalemate, a junior partner in the government filed the no-confidence bid and proposed that a minority government be formed.

Montenegro, a small Balkan nation on the Adriatic Sea is a member of NATO and has formally requested EU membership. The government deadlock has stalled political and economic reforms.

It was not immediately clear whether and when a minority government could be formed, or whether the country would head into early elections.

Either outcome would have the backing of the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists, which ruled Montenegro for 30 years before it was replaced by Krivokapic's government after an August 2020 election.

Headed by Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic, DPS led the nation of 620,000 to independence from Serbia in 2006 and defied Russia to join NATO in 2017. The party’s popularity plunged over time mainly because of alleged corruption and links with organized crime.

Pro-Serb lawmakers warned during Friday's parliamentary debate that they would organize protests if the new majority cabinet is formed with DPS support.

“If you want to preserve the will (of the people), you must talk to us,” said Milan Knezevic from the pro-Serb Democratic Front group, warning it will stage protests and "'carry the flag of resistance.”