Montenegro divided by religion and identity ahead of crunch election

Montenegro is divided ahead of Sunday's election, with President Milo Djukanovic facing strong opposition from opposition party, For the Future of Montenegro./AFP

On Sunday, Montenegrins will head to polling booths with the population divided over the direction the country should take in the years ahead.

The Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), led by Milo Djukanovic, has been in power for three decades, but faces strong opposition from the nationalist party, For the Future of Montenegro.

The DPS currently has a slender majority, with 42 deputies in the 81-seat parliament, while polls have predicted a tight race.

Djukanovic is tipped to win between 32 and 37 percent of the vote, compared to 22-27 percent for the opposition, meaning he may have to form a coalition with a smaller party to win a meaningful majority.

Djukanovic supporters are in favour of EU membership and close ties with the West, but the opposition want to tighten their relationship with Russia and Serbia./AFP

During his time in power, Djukanovic has overseen Montenegro's accession to NATO and pushed for the nation to become a member of the European Union (EU).

In contrast, For the Future of Montenegro, led by Zdravko Krivokapic, wants to build a closer relationship with Serbia and Russia and has the backing of the Serbian Orthodox Church.

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Montenegro claimed independence from Serbia in June 2006, but Montenegrins who identify as Serbs still account for about a third of the 620,000 population.

Most Montenegrins and Serbs share language and the Orthodox faith, and many Serbian citizens have roots and families in Montenegro.

Religion and identity are causes of division in Montenegro, where a third of the population still identify as Serb and support the Serbian Orthodox Church.

Djukanovic has come under fire from opposition parties and voters over a controversial new law, which allows the government to seize some religious assets if historical ownership can't be proven.

The law has yet to be enforced largely due to months of protests led by the Serbian Orthodox Church, Montenegro's largest and backed by pro-Serbian parties.

In his defence, Djukanovic has repeatedly accused Serbia and Russia of using the church to undermine the country's independence.

Another destabilising issue for Montenegro's leader is the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has resulted in 4,500 cases and 89 deaths and brought a halt to the country's tourism industry, which is likely to dramatically cut its annual budget.

With reporting from Reuters