Montenegro Holds Snap Parliamentary Vote That Could Determine Its EU Path

PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) Montenegro is holding an early parliamentary election Sunday, a vote that could provide indications of whether the small NATO member in the Balkans will overcome the deep political divisions and instability that have hampered its route to joining the European Union.

Some 542,000 voters are eligible to choose among 15 parties and coalitions fielding candidates, ranging from groups that are staunchly pro-Western to ones that are pro-Serbian and pro-Russian.

The election will be Montenegro's first in more than 30 years that does not feature Milo Djukanovic, who served almost continuously as the country's prime minister or president since 2001. He lost a presidential election in April and has taken a back seat in politics.

Polls and analysts predict that the centrist Europe Now movement, led by financial expert Milojko Spajic and the current president, Jakov Milatovic, is most likely to be the top vote-getter but without enough seats in parliament to form a new government on its own.