SPC denies working to prevent election of gay PM

Photo: Supplied

Serbian Minister of State Administration and Local Self-Government Ana Barnabic says she "deeply respects the Serbian Orthodox Church (SPC)".

Barnabic made the statement after media reported rumors that the Church was opposed to the possibility of her becoming Serbia's next prime minister due to her sexual orientation - namely, she is the first openly lesbian member of the Serbian government.

"I have deep and sincere respect toward the institution of the SPC," she told the daily Politika on May 18, when asked to "interpret the rumors" that the SPC was opposed to the possibility of her heading the Serbian government.

On May 15, the Serbian Church denied these rumors, saying it was not interfering in the process of selecting the country's new prime minister - and adding that it was "not in the habit of peeking through other people's windows, or...