Politician by vocation, Novljanka by location, and master's degree in ecology and environmental protection. She wanted to "cleanse" Montenegro, and she entered the history of Montenegrin parliamentarianism. She did not think much about gender equality, because her family and surroundings were "relieved of gender roles". Politics denied her belief that men and women are equal in Montenegro and she realized that women are not "welcome everywhere". Especially not in politics. She managed to fight for her place at the table, even if she was the only woman.
Her name is Danijela Đurović, and is the first woman to head the Herzegovinian parliament. It was in 2012. A decade later, she became the president of the Parliament of Montenegro, 20 years after the first woman in the history of Montenegrin parliamentarianism was elected to that position - Vesna Perović.
"That feeling of pride is indescribable. I have to admit that even today, after the experience in the mentioned positions, I feel both pride and disbelief. However, we must also bear in mind the complexity of the circumstances and the moment when I became the President of the Parliament of Montenegro. It was not at all easy to lead the parliament, to oppose when it was necessary, but also to have enough tolerance for rude behavior, to be able to find compromise solutions in situations that seemed hopeless, and all this without having a clear parliamentary majority throughout the mandate. Sometimes I ask myself how I managed. I think the answer lies in the fact that women are more adept at managing crisis situations. I want to believe that I paved the way for other women and showed that it is possible to be at the top despite all the obstacles", she tells "Vijesti".
Over time, they learned to listen and hear her
She says that politics was not her first choice and that due to circumstances, she sailed into political waters:
"Ecology and the protection of the living environment, which is what I got my master's degree in, especially the specialty in the field of municipal waste management and sustainable development, were the focus of my business career. I followed politics in the domain of general interest, but not engagement. At the persuasion of a friend, I became a member of a political party for the first time at the beginning of 2008. As I never do anything half-heartedly, or by the way, I was involved in full capacity from the very beginning and very quickly became a member of the party body, and then certain positions followed. in the local administration of Herceg Novi".
Although sometimes it seems to her that the story of gender equality in Montenegro should be put to an end by stating that we are a patriarchal society, she still chooses a comma.
"By getting involved in political life, as well as by looking at the experiences of my female colleagues, I became more and more aware of obvious inequality, and then I also saw from a personal example how gender roles are divided in our society. Although I persistently refuse that some topics, societies, decision-making places can be places where I am not welcome as a woman, spite always works in me and I do not allow myself to be excluded. Due to my nature, persistence, some would say ambition and assertiveness, I always found 'my place at the table', even if I was the only woman".
When she analyzes her political path today, she says that she realizes how much energy and persistence she needed to become a woman who is listened to and heard, and how many obstacles there were on that path:
"There were situations of discomfort for me, when, even though I was very expert in the topics being discussed, I felt uncomfortable when I had to take the floor at party bodies or other decision-making places, because in the room I felt an unspoken sentence - 'what does she want now? '. Still, I didn't let that discomfort stop me from speaking my mind. Also, I don't like being interrupted. I find that particularly uncultured. Men in Montenegro have this 'innate gene' that they have to 'interrupt' a woman's speech, or interrupt her. I didn't allow that and I knew how to answer. Over time, they learned to listen and hear me."
In order for women's words to be heard, he points out, they must first fight with themselves, to understand that there are no places and positions reserved for men:
"To deal with her immediate environment, to constantly learn and acquire new knowledge and understanding so that she can always respond with facts, but also not to 'roughen up' and identify with the opposite sex on the way, but on the contrary, to nurture women inherent characteristics of empathy and compromise, which makes us women more comprehensive, more complete and very good managers in crisis situations".
Fewer and fewer women are ready to embark on the adventure called politics
When asked how much she influenced decision-making in the party, of which she was a member, bearing in mind that she was at the very top of the decision-making process, she answered briefly and clearly "not enough". As she says, one of her characteristics is self-criticism, which she considers "reserved" for women.
Nevertheless, she admits that she is proud of the many things she has achieved, designed and realized, both in Herceg Novi and in the state parliament.
"From issues of social policies and laws that improve the quality of life for women in Montenegro, to introducing a culture of communication in the public space. To all the legal solutions that I proposed together with my colleagues in the Women's Club and which the Assembly adopted, the fact that I gathered all the leaders of the then parliamentary parties in one place after a full six years, contributed to the election of three judges of the Constitutional Court, which was one of key steps towards unblocking the work of judicial institutions...".
Sexist and misogynistic attacks on women, especially female politicians, have become almost everyday and women are the target of criticism and insults on all grounds, and very rarely, the former president of the Assembly points out, debate with them about the views expressed:
"Perhaps the immaturity of the part of the male population that is prone to such attacks lies in the fact that they are inferior to women and incapable of arguing and criticizing. The painful fact remains that we are a gender immature society. I would say that this bad situation is also contributed to by the fact that the competent authorities often turn a blind eye and are silent on everything that female politicians go through, they do not react to attacks and open hate speech, while the reaction of fellow politicians is usually absent or reduced to a simple post on social networks that everyone they forget very quickly".
The phrase that always angers her is that it is difficult to find a "quality" woman who is willing to be on the electoral list. He points out that he does not remember that the quality of colleagues was ever considered, while female candidates "are searched for their past, present, education, knowledge, marital status and everything else possible".
"And then, on the other hand, I look at the available credible research, which says that fewer and fewer women are ready to embark on the adventure called politics, and the dominant reasons are a sense of inequality, discomfort, unfavorable views of the closest environment, but also what is increasingly took off, namely misogynistic attacks on women in the public media space, especially on social networks. Simply, women are less and less willing to deal with all these obstacles and problems in order to participate in politics, with little certainty that, even if they do get involved, they will be present at the decision-making places. For me, it is very interesting to know that women from less developed and economically weaker areas are more willing to get involved in politics, while I was previously convinced that the opposite was true. The reasoning lies in the fact that we are a deeply politicized society and the struggle for bare existence forces them to engage politically".
Quotas and flirting with European values
It recalls the devastating response in a survey conducted by the Westminster Foundation. When the surveyed women were asked what would motivate them to get involved in politics, the answer was - nothing. That is why quotas in our society, even though they do not reflect real equality, and even though, as she says, she is not satisfied with them, are still a necessary evil. He reminds that the current convocation of the Assembly is below the legal minimum - there are only 27 percent female MPs.
"If it weren't for the quota, as well as our flirtation with European values, women would have minimal chances to become councilors, MPs, ministers, or to occupy some other high public office. For the current generation, we must raise the quotas to 50 percent, because that is equality. We need to pass a series of legal solutions that will protect women from sexism and misogynistic attacks. Mothers and fathers, start educating your children that they are equal in everything regardless of gender. Throw out the stereotypes of gender roles that have been instilled in us for generations since birth. Let's create conditions so that new generations do not recognize division. Let's start from them, because they are our future. And I say to women - be self-confident and persistent. It is possible for you to achieve everything you want".
She admits that politics was and remains a challenge for her:
"A platform through which we change our environment for the better. There will always be enthusiasm in me, now supported by great experience, to get involved, influence and create, in all aspects, the space in which we live. I think it's best to end this interview with a famous quote Margaret Thatcher: 'In politics, if you want something said, ask a man. If you want something done, ask a woman'”.
He believes that the EU will "force" us to get a female prime minister or president
Montenegro is feminine, but men still rule the roost. Since the establishment of the National Assembly in the Principality of Montenegro until today, from Šak Petrović to Aleksandar Mandić, the Assembly has been presided over by 30 presidents and only two presidents.
But that's why the position of the president of the state was always "reserved" for men. Only one woman dared, Draginja Vuksanović Stanković, to enter the presidential race.
Even prime ministerial decisions were always made by men.
Danijela Đurović says that she believes that the European Union and the desire to be part of that family will "force" us to find a woman in the position of prime minister, as well as at the head of the state, in the near future.
"I think that it will happen in the near future and that is to show that we are a modern, developed and aware society, even though the reality is different. I personally think that it is necessary for us. It has been shown in a large number of examples that other countries, headed by women during crisis situations, such as the corona pandemic, had a much better response to challenges. There is also a saying that if the world was ruled by women, there would be no wars. So far, Montenegro has had two female presidents of the Assembly. It is not a commendable result, but let's believe that it will be an incentive for a woman to be at the head of the state and the government in due course. What is certain is that we have more than enough women who could do these very important jobs as well, or better, than men."
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
