Voters in Montenegro are casting ballots in a presidential election marked by political turmoil and uncertainty over whether or not the small NATO member state within the Balkans will unblock its bid to hitch the European Union or as a substitute search to enhance ties with Serbia and Russia.

Polling stations in Montenegro opened on Sunday at 7am (06:00 GMT) and can shut at 8pm (19:00 GMT). First unofficial outcomes by pollsters, primarily based on a pattern of the citizens, are anticipated about two hours later.

If no candidate secures greater than 50 p.c of votes, a second spherical of voting between the highest two is scheduled for April 2.

Analysts predict that the primary spherical of the presidential election won’t produce a transparent winner and that incumbent Milo Djukanovic, 61, will face one in every of a number of challengers within the runoff vote.

Djukanovic, the incumbent pro-Western president, has held prime political posts within the nation for 33 years and is looking for one other five-year time period.

Although the presidency is basically ceremonial in Montenegro, the poll is seen as a key indicator of well-liked sentiment forward of a parliamentary election set for June 11.

“I don’t plan to lose this election and it may be anticipated that I lead my social gathering on the parliamentary vote,” Djukanovic mentioned after casting his poll. “I imagine there will probably be a runoff … and that we’ll have a good duel. I’m satisfied of my superiority.”

Djukanovic’s opponents embrace a pacesetter of the staunchly pro-Serbia and pro-Russia Democratic Entrance social gathering, Andrija Mandic, economist Jakov Milatovic of the newly fashioned Europe Now group, and former parliament speaker Aleksa Becic.

Observers say Milatovic, who served within the authorities elected after the 2020 parliamentary vote however later break up from the ruling coalition, might stand the most effective likelihood of creating it into the runoff towards Djukanovic.

Milatovic has accused Djukanovic and his social gathering of corruption, saying the president’s remaining removing from energy is important for Montenegro to maneuver ahead.

After casting his poll, Mandic advised reporters that if he received, his presidency would create “a coverage of reconciliation targeted on all residents and which will probably be waging a powerful battle towards corruption and organised crime”.

Djukanovic and his Democratic Social gathering of Socialists (DPS) led Montenegro to independence from Serbia in 2006, and defied Russia to hitch NATO in 2017. An alliance dominated by events looking for nearer ties with Serbia and Russia ousted DPS from energy in 2020.

The brand new ruling alliance, nonetheless, quickly plunged into disarray, which stalled Montenegro’s path towards the EU and created a political impasse. The most recent authorities fell in a no-confidence vote in August, however has remained in workplace for months due to the stalemate.

Djukanovic has seen his recognition plummet. Opponents accuse the president and DPS of corruption, hyperlinks to organised crime, and of operating the nation of some 620,000 individuals as their private fiefdom – costs Djukanovic and his social gathering deny.

He now hopes to regain belief amongst Montenegro’s roughly 540,000 eligible voters and assist pave the way in which for his social gathering’s return to energy.

Djukanovic has portrayed the presidential election as a alternative between an impartial Montenegro and a rustic managed by neighbouring Serbia and Russia.

“Only some years in the past, nobody may think about that we might as soon as once more wage a decisive battle for the survival of Montenegro,” he advised supporters. “Sadly, with the change of energy two and a half years in the past, the horizon of European values has been irresponsibly closed.”

The political chaos and stalled reforms in a rustic lengthy seen as the subsequent in line for EU membership has alarmed EU and United States officers, who concern Russia may attempt to stir hassle within the Balkans to divert consideration from the conflict in Ukraine.

Montenegro’s residents stay deeply divided between supporters of Djukanovic’s insurance policies and those that view themselves as Serbs and wish Montenegro to ally itself with Serbia and fellow-Slavic nation Russia.

The Democratic Entrance social gathering’s Mandic, who was accused of being a part of a Russia-orchestrated 2016 coup try, has sought to current himself as a conciliatory determine throughout the marketing campaign, saying his most important objective as president can be to bridge the Montenegrin divide.

The nation joined NATO a yr after the botched coup try that the federal government blamed on Russian brokers and Serbian nationalists. Moscow dismissed such claims as absurd.

Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine final yr, Montenegro joined EU sanctions towards Russia. The Kremlin has positioned Montenegro on its listing of unfriendly states.