Berlin, 19 March 2023 (dpa/MIA) — Montenegro goes to polls on Sunday to elect a new president, with incumbent Milo Djukanovic running against six rivals, including four members of the pro-Serbian camp.

Polling stations in the Balkan country opened at 7 am (0600 GMT) and first results were expected on Monday night. 

The race is expected to be decided on April 2 in a run-off between the two first-place finishers on Sunday.

The outcome of the polls to lead the NATO member state with around 625,000 citizens is considered open.

Djukanovic has held top posts in Montenegro's government for most of the last three decades. He served six terms as prime minister, dating back to 1991. Winning this election would vault him into his third term as president.

He has steered the country sharply towards the West and NATO membership in 2017. Along the way, he broke with a traditional allegiance to Russia.