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Head of Serbian Church Calls for anti-Government Vote in Montenegro

Politiko 24 Gusht 2020, 12:15

Head of Serbian Church Calls for anti-Government Vote in Montenegro

Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC) Metropolitan Amfilohije of Montenegro and the Littoral called on the citizens of Montenegro to go to the polls in the August 30 elections and vote against the ruling Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), which passed the disputed Law on Religious Freedoms.

“The Church does not have its party or electoral ticket, but it is natural that it looks favorably on those who are against lawless laws and who defend sanctities, regardless of which party they belong to,” said Amfilohije in a letter read after the liturgy at the Church of the Resurrection of Christ in Podgorica.

Amfilohije has for decades been considered the most politicized figure in the SPC leadership, but even he has so far refrained from explicitly calling on the citizens to vote for or against someone.

The clash with the Montenegrin state leadership over the law adopted in late 2019, however, has led to tensions growing to the breaking point.

Without naming the DPS or any opposition party, Amfilohije dedicated his entire address on Sunday to the upcoming elections and the law, stating that the church considers it “legitimate” to call its congregation and “all righteous people to not vote for the policies that still prevails in the spirit of this anti-law.”

He said that this speech is not politically profiled.

The call to vote against the government “has no political propaganda”, but rather it is “about the shepherd’s concern for the souls of the congregation,” he said.

“This is why we invite all the participants in the political competition to obey God’s and worldly laws and for the electoral process, including the counting of the votes and announcement of the results, to be carried out humanely and democratically. In this we draw the attention of the faithful and honorable citizens that they should not sell their soul or conscious, votes or identity cards cheaply, to anyone, out of fear or any interest,” Amfilohije said.

After the disputed law was passed, the SPC organized large protest marches in Montenegro, demanding the rescinding of the law. The protests were suspended after the Covid-19 pandemic erupted, only to be renewed in recent weeks, despite the fact that restrictions on public gatherings are still in force, only now they are being held as processions of cars or - as was the case this month on the Adriatic coast - as a regatta.

Public gatherings in Montenegro have been limited to 40 people outdoors, and no more than 100 participants in the case of political rallies.