Culture in Montenegro must be systematically freed from the influence of party politics, in order to stop the abuse of culture for political purposes, which we have been witnessing for decades, said Svetlana Dukić, a candidate for MP from the list "Turnaround for a safe Montenegro - Srđan Perić".
Dukić said that at the head of public institutions in the field of culture there must be independent and established experts, chosen through transparent public competitions and based on their competences, skills and results.
"That's why Peorekret will submit an initiative in the new convocation of the Parliament of Montenegro for amendments to the Law on Culture, so that the managers of public institutions founded by the state would be elected through a public competition, and not at the will of the minister," she stated.
The Acute Law on Culture, explains Dukić, stipulates in Article 47 that the director, artistic director and business director of a public institution, whose founder is the state, is appointed and dismissed by the Government, upon the proposal of the ministry responsible for cultural affairs.
"Such a legal solution is disastrous for the development of culture in Montenegro, because the heads of public institutions are directly under the political influence of the Government, that is, the relevant minister," she added.
According to Dukić, Montenegro needs people who have knowledge and vision, instead of suitable and obedient ones, more than ever.
"This can only be ensured systematically, through the improvement of the legal framework. By changing the method of electing directors of public cultural institutions, a greater degree of autonomy and transparency of those institutions will be ensured, which is a prerequisite for the development of cultural and artistic creativity in the country, as well as the protection and preservation of cultural heritage," she said
According to her, culture represents the public interest of Montenegro and must not depend on the interests of political parties.
"That's why the depoliticization of public cultural institutions will be high on the list of priorities of the Turnover in the next four-year term," said Dukić.
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