Statement by the Speaker of the Parliament and the President of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) Andrije Mandić that they will demand that the percentage of Serbs shown in the population census be found in public services, is populist and dangerous, unfounded in European standards and good practices, and if implemented could result in a reduction of social cohesion and the creation of privileges for certain ethnic groups.
This was assessed by the interlocutors of "Vijesti", commenting on Mandić's recent message on the "Ćirilica" show on "Hepi" Television, that he would demand that the percentage of Serbs "as we had in the census" be found in public services, the police and the army.
"What are we going to look for tomorrow? We will ask that, respecting European standards, the percentage of Serbs that we have on the list be found in public services, public structures, in the army, in the police," he said.
Program Director of the Center for Civic Education (CGO) Petar Djukanovic, told "Vijesti" that this is a populist and dangerous statement, which is not based on European standards and good practices.
"It should be remembered that issues of nationality and religion are not even the European standard in the census, and there are few countries in which this data is collected through the population census. So, there are no European standards that prescribe that, in accordance with the census, the visco-professional positions in the system are filled according to ethnic quotas", he stated.
The interlocutor said that European standards related to public administration have a focus on defining clear, objective criteria that should ensure employment and advancement in that system based on educational and professional achievements.
"Additionally, there are standards to ensure equal access to employment for certain marginalized groups in different services, such as people with disabilities, women and certain minorities who are often among the most difficult to employ in the labor market," he added.
Đukanović said that within this framework, certain incentive measures are created for them to reach an equal position in society, but even then on the condition that these persons deserve it and their professional references in accordance with the set criteria.
"So, equal access to employment is something that should be valid and cherished as a principle, but it has nothing to do with census results related to ethnic and religious affiliation, nor can they be a reference point when allocating positions in professional services, and public administration is precisely that area where professionalism, regardless of nation and religion, must be insisted upon," he notes.
"Service to Vučić"
Docent at the University of Donja Gorica Nikoleta Djukanovic, said that Mandić's message does not deviate from the policy he advocates.
"He is trying to respond in this way to the demands of his voters and is trying to distance Montenegro from the European path, which, in my opinion, would be a favor to the President of Serbia, Mr. Aleksandar Vučić. I believe that Serbs, Montenegrins, Croats, Albanians, Bosniaks and all peoples living in Montenegro should have the same rights and exercise them in all public and private institutions," she told "Vijesti".
Đukanović said that she thinks that "this is more about political manipulations that would satisfy the electorate", and to divert attention from the poorer living conditions and the lack of reforms that the citizens expect.
Director of the Center for Democracy and Human Rights (CEDEM) Nevenka Vuksanović, she assessed that party employment as a practice of the Montenegrin party system unfortunately has a long tradition, despite constant warnings from the EU.
"We are witnessing that, both at the state level and at the local level, during local elections, despite legal restrictions, new jobs are advertised. This unequivocally indicates political abuse for the purpose of appointing suitable political personnel," she explains.
Vukasnović said that, if ethnic quotas were added to that during employment, they would immeasurably set back democratic processes in Montenegro and radicalize employment processes.
"I use this term on purpose, because I don't see how else we could call preference based on ethnicity versus hiring based on references and knowledge," she underlines.
Vuksanović said that she believed that Mandić felt the freedom to express his nationalist aspirations in the TV show, but that there is no place for that in the media space of Montenegro.
"At a time when citizenship needs to be strengthened, the empowerment of ethnicity in the form proposed by Mr. Mandic is malignant. At the same time, it would lead to a decrease in social cohesion and the creation of privileges for certain ethnic groups," she added.
Vuksanović stated that, on the other hand, with regard to vulnerable groups, such as the RE (Roma-Egyptian) population, the ethnic quota could represent a form of affirmative action that would enable more equal access to employment and increase their chances for social inclusion, but even in those cases would have to be used only as an additional mechanism for the improvement of the community which, by all standards, is the most marginalized in Montenegrin society.
Let those who are capable progress
Answering the question whether he believes that such a move could lead to the polarization of society or the creation of new tensions, Andrija Đukanović said that "we live in a chronically polarized society, but it is also clear that we have professional managers of those divisions whose only goal is power, not social cohesion”:
"An ethnic or religious prefix cannot be an advantage for someone in employment, because it makes the system and institutions meaningless".
Đukanović assessed that lightly and irresponsibly making statements in which citizens are counted along ethnic lines, and some more numerous are promised privileges based on the fact that they are more numerous than others, introduces tensions and deepens mistrust and divisions.
"A society that is so diverse cannot function according to the principle - "there are more of us, so we can do it". There must be a system that gives everyone equal starting positions, and that advancement depends solely on individual abilities and achievements".
Đukanović reminded that many of the now ruling parties, when they were in the opposition, fought for this rhetorically, and that now it can be seen that they resented the previous authorities not for the way of governing, "and there was a lot to complain about such a way of governing, but they were not in a position to do the same".
"It was not so long ago, although politicians think that we quickly forget, that they were vocal about the fact that objective criteria and not party affiliation or something else should be the recommendation for a job, in order to get to the point of proposing the so-called ethnic and religious quotas, which is unthinkable in any democratic society".
Nikoleta Đukanović said that Montenegrin society is deeply polarized, and that the consequence of such a situation is increasing radicalization and increasing ethnic distance even in the stages of growing up and schooling.
"In this sense, I believe that it is necessary to insist on all the moments that unite Montenegrin citizens, because our country is of a civic character and is not made up of nations, but of its citizens, regardless of any other definition. That is why emphasizing all these topics keeps society away from dealing with essential reforms. That is why even today we refer to the past, not offering solutions that will enable us to reach a consensus as a society in the future and for all citizens to feel the benefits of the civic character of society.
Insincere calls for reconciliation
When asked whether Mandić's approach would violate the principle of merit and competence when hiring in public services, Andrija Đukanović said that this principle has long since collapsed, and that "it seems that the new authorities are trampling on it every day."
"The so-called ethnic quotas that are tried to be performed on the basis of the census as a means of evil engineering have no justification and cannot be applied, because they directly invalidate the government's rhetorical commitment to the principle of meritocracy, which should lead to employment and promotion in any service in the system".
He said that public services urgently need professionals, capable of managing them and providing adequate service to citizens by working in them.
"Professional capacities are the only criterion that should recommend someone for a certain job. Unfortunately, we are witnessing, and this is the perception of most citizens, that political affiliation plays the most important role in employment. Now that should be followed up with employment by ethnic key, which would be the final blow to Montenegro as a state of civil character".
Đukanović said that such a system could lead to the neglect of other ethnic groups that are part of Montenegrin society, because positions cannot be reserved first for those who are more numerous, and then for the rest, regardless of personal abilities and capacities.
"Such initiatives are contrary to democratic principles, and the danger it carries requires a clear determination of all members of the Government, starting with the Prime Minister."
Nikoleta Đukanović pointed out that Mandić's relationship would only contribute to one community in Montenegro and weaken Montenegrin society.
"It is extremely important that we always take into account the interests of society, not narrow-party or exclusively ethnic, national, religious interests. This is what politicians in our country continue to do. When the policies you implement benefit only one structure, without taking into account the common interest of all, then we are not sincere when you talk about reconciliation".
She assessed that it is important that civic-oriented parties stand for meritocracy, for the equality of all and to provide equal opportunities for all.
"In such a society, where quality is valued, everyone would have the opportunity to live a dignified life and would be aware that referring to any particularity - ethnic, national, religious... indicates their lack of capacity".
Identity is preserved by cultural policy, not by employment based on national key
Petar Đukanović assessed that the introduction of ethnic quotas would be a "giant step backwards" for the democratic system in Montenegro.
"The results of the census in terms of ethnic and religious affiliation have nothing to do with employment in the state administration, nor are these data of importance for public policies in the field of employment, given that public policies are created according to civil society and are aimed at providing equal access to employment opportunities for all regardless of ethnicity or religion”.
He stated that part of the policy related to the preservation of national and religious identity is defined through cultural policy in an inclusive process where different groups propose approaches to preserve and improve rights in the domain of culture and cultural heritage.
"If you don't believe where this is going, look at SFRY"
Nikoleta Đukanović assessed that ethnic quotas would exclusively lead the reform process in the wrong direction.
"I consider this for the reason that we would know in advance the percentages of participation of certain groups in social processes, so competitiveness would be absent and we would show that meritocracy is not our goal".
She said that the principle of affirmative action for marginalized groups, such as the Roma population, is one thing that can improve and integrate such a marginalized population into society, enable their members to be exceptional agents of social processes in Montenegro, and reduce social distance between them and members of other nations.
"However, this kind of division among peoples who are equal in Montenegro only destroys its civil character and, in my opinion, leads to the federalization of our country and to even bigger and deeper divisions. If you don't believe, let him look at SFRY".
There is no parallel between the position of the Serbs in Montenegro and the Albanians in North Macedonia
Mandić and Serbian President Vučić once spoke about comparing the position of Serbs in Montenegro with the position of Albanians in North Macedonia.
Vučić said in 2020 that Serbs in Montenegro do not have "even a tenth of the rights" that Albanians in North Macedonia have, and in 2023 that "Albanians in North Macedonia can get whatever they want with 24 percent, and Serbs in Montenegro with 30 percent can't get anything."
In August of last year, Mandić said that the President of Serbia did not interfere in the formation of the Montenegrin government, nor did he put pressure on anyone, "but he very precisely compared the situation in North Macedonia, where the Albanians hold almost all the levers of power, with the events in Montenegro , in which the very entry of Serb representatives into the government is problematic".
"I remind you, the percentage of Serbs in Montenegro is much higher than the percentage of Albanians in North Macedonia," Mandic announced at the time.
In 2019, when the parties of the former Democratic Front (DF) were the opposition, he said that if Albanians managed to fight for their rights in North Macedonia, and there are fewer of them than Serbs in Montenegro, "then we Serbs will also fight for our rights”.
The rights of Albanians in North Macedonia are based on positive discrimination. The Ohrid Agreement ended the months-long conflict in Macedonia in 2001 between the People's Liberation Army and the security forces of the then Republic of Macedonia. According to the agreement, the Constitution was also changed and positive discrimination was introduced for the Albanian population in the civil service, army and police.
In addition to other measures, wider use of the Albanian flag and language is allowed.
Positive discrimination is provided for in the Constitution of Montenegro, which states that members of minority nations and other minority national communities are guaranteed authentic representation in the Parliament of Montenegro and assemblies of local self-government units in which they make up a significant part of the population, in accordance with the principle of affirmative action. Proportional representation in public services, state and local self-government bodies, etc. are also guaranteed by the Constitution.
In practice, it is different, and in Montenegro there are no quotas for minorities in the judiciary and the army. This was insisted on several times in political discussions, but Bosniaks, Albanians, and Serbs never entered those institutions "by quota".
In order for the state to commit to that, it would be necessary to change the Constitution, which requires the support of 54 out of 81 deputies in the Assembly.
According to Montenegrin laws, Serbs are not a minority nation in Montenegro.
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