PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) – Montenegro’s new Serbian authorities have amended a law on religious rights and property that was passed by a previous government but strongly opposed by the Serbian Orthodox Church, which led months of protests against the bill.
Parliament on Tuesday approved early legislative changes with 41 votes in the 81-member assembly. The revised legislation was backed by ruling Serbian lawmakers, while the pro-Western opposition boycotted the session.
The changes abolished sections of property that the Serbian church insisted were designed to remove it from its properties in Montenegro despite repeated denials from the previous government.
Church-led rallies against the law helped strengthen the pro-Serbian camp ahead of an August parliamentary vote that led to the long-running expulsion of the Socialist Democratic Party.
Montenegro declared independence from a union with Serbia after a 2006 referendum. Residents of the country remain divided over relations with Belgrade. About 30% of Montenegrins identify as Serbs and the Serbian Orthodox Church enjoys the most important followers of any organized religion.
The previous government, led by the DPS, distanced Montenegro from the influence of Serbia and Russia. The Adriatic nation joined NATO in 2017 and seeks membership in the European Union.
Montenegro’s new prime minister, Zdravko Krivokapic, said on Twitter that religious law “modifies injustice” towards the Serbian Orthodox Church.
Thousands of opponents of the changes rallied outside the parliament building on Monday, accusing the new government of pushing Montenegro back into Serbian hands. Waving Montenegrin flags, protesters chanted “Betrayal!” and “This is not Serbia!” No clashes were recorded.