Vujović: Dangerous messages, the data collection process is being politicized, the government can postpone the census

The use of terminology used in the election campaign and the message that the upcoming census is the first to be free are very dangerous and show how much the data collection process is being politicized from the highest levels, according to Juventas executive director Ivana Vujović.

She assessed that the political environment has been unfavorable for holding the census for a long time, and that the data being collected is necessary.

According to her, there is a possibility that the census will be postponed, by decision of the Government, by changing the reference date of its holding.

"Article 2 of the Law on the Population Census states that the period of conducting the census and the reference moment of the census are determined by the Government. Postponing the census costs money," Vujović told the Mina agency, reminding that the recommendation that the census should not be held during the election process refers to the period until the formation of the government.

It indicates that the expected date when the new government will be formed is not yet known, and that the beginning of the census is scheduled for November 1.

"In the case of postponing the census, there should be a political consensus not to raise questions about identity, that is, to amend the Law on the Census, and then the postponement, which sends the message that people are important to us, not national identities, makes a lot of sense."

She assessed that the decision to collect data on national identity, language and religion turned out to be wrong, but that it had the support of almost all political entities.

She reminded that the Ministry of Finance, headed at that moment by Mandate Milojko Spajić, rejected the amendments of non-governmental organizations and research houses to the Draft Law on Census.

Vujović said that Monstat did not loudly advocate the position that these data are not collected, although aware of the sensitivity of the process, to the extent that these data were not collected in the test list.

"There is a real fear of additional polarization on a national basis and the use of the census to create additional tensions in society. "Montenegro is a society where every sixth high school student feels discriminated against on the basis of nationality, and we also measure the ethnic distance among children".