No one was punished in the last census

In the previous population census in 2011, according to "Vijesti" information, there were no reports against those who were not listed, and therefore no one was punished.

A "Vijesti" source familiar with the process said that it is theoretically difficult to implement the penal provisions because the enumerators would have to prove that someone living at that address did not want to give the information to the enumerator or that he saw the invitation left to contact the enumerator, but that he didn't do it though.

According to the 2011 census law, fines from one half to twenty times the minimum wage in Montenegro were provided for those who refuse to answer questions in the census forms or give incorrect and incomplete answers. The minimum wage in 2011 was 145 euros.

According to the census law for this year, fines of 100 to 500 euros are provided for this violation. The census will be held from November 1 to 15, although due to the unstable political situation, the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) and the Social Democrats (SD) requested a postponement. This was also requested by the national councils of the less numerous peoples and national communities in Montenegro, except for the Serbian ones.

Director of Monstat Miroslav Pejović announced on TVCG on Sunday evening that calling for a boycott of the census is a call for breaking the law.

"We will evaluate all the missing data, that is, include those that are available in the register itself," said Pejović.

Yesterday, the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT) published an analysis of the implementation of the census, in which it stated that citizens who heed the call for a possible boycott of the census and accept the policy of "closed doors" can hardly be punished, because there is no precise record of who lives in which address.

They believe that the penal provisions of the Law on the Census 2023 are difficult to implement in practice, because a large number of people are not in the habit of reporting a change of residence and domicile.

This is why, as they explain, it is very difficult to legally establish the fact of where these people live and whether they actually acted against the law in the event that they refused to provide data for the census.

Yesterday, the European Parliament adopted the report on Montenegro, which was prepared by the special rapporteur Tonino Picula with an amendment relating to the census.

"Montenegro is called upon to conduct the long-awaited population and housing census in accordance with European Union and international standards as soon as the political deadlock in the country ends, so that this important issue is not used as another excuse for intensifying the polarization of society," it says in to the amendment submitted by Picula and the European MP Pedro Marquez.

In the first draft of the report, which was published at the end of June, Montenegro was invited to conduct a population and household census by the end of the year, in accordance with EU and international standards.

Last night, during the debate in the EP, Picula said that the census should not be used as another political tool for additional polarization of society.

"In order to eliminate any doubts about the census, we are not talking about boycotting it, but we support the implementation of the census as a contribution to the development policy of each country. What we are suggesting is that the census is not used as another political tool to further polarize society. Removing political blockages would be a constructive precondition for its maintenance in an open and transparent manner without any political interference. In the end, although the vast majority of us sincerely wanted to hear better news from Montenegro in this mandate, I emphasize that it was an exceptional honor for me to perform the duties of rapporteur for Montenegro", said Picula, presenting the report.

DPS and SD call for a boycott of the census

Given that the census was not postponed, the DPS Main Board decided last night to boycott the upcoming population census, it was confirmed by "Vijesti" from that party.

Such a decision was made yesterday by the presidency and the Main Board of the SD.

DPS official Drita Lola said in the show "Iznova" on TV Nova M that the boycott is a political decision whose goal is not to accept a process that will be faked.

"The goal of the census is clear, and that is to draw the conclusion that the number of Montenegrins is in the minority, and in that way to make the existence of Montenegro meaningless. The idea is not to accept a process that will be falsified in advance", she said and added that the census takes place in never greater social divisions and with never less trust in state institutions.

V. d. DPS president Danijel Živković said earlier that process control is necessary in order to have confidence in the integrity of the collected data.

DPS also announced that it will submit an initiative for the evaluation of the constitutionality of the Law on the Census.

SD President Damir Šehović announced yesterday that their request to postpone the census was not seriously considered, let alone adopted.

That is why, as he stated, they had no choice but to start a boycott and call on citizens not to participate in this "fraud" behind which is hidden a harmful political agenda with incalculable consequences for this society.