Some of the coalition allies of the parliament speaker Andrije Mandić (New Serbian Democracy - NSD) does not look favorably on his re-initiation of identity issues - the status of the Serbian language in the Constitution, telling him that, at this point, dealing with such topics is counterproductive and that they should therefore be left for the period after Montenegro's entry into the European Union (EU).
The day before yesterday, at a reception marking 120 years since the adoption of the Constitution of the Principality of Montenegro, Mandić stated that the current highest legal act of the country, adopted almost two decades ago, does not fully reflect the actual situation in society, and that a large number of provisions of that regulation are "ripe for harmonization with the modern state", adding that the status of the Serbian language should also be "harmonized".
He said that the citizens of Montenegro are not looking for miracles, but only that the Constitution represents the "reality of the state."
"No one wants the current status of other languages in the Constitution to be changed, but it is time to correct the historical injustice created by the people who divided Montenegro for 30 years, and to be responsible just as our ancestors, whom we commemorate here today, were responsible," added Mandić, who this time raised the topic of standardizing the Serbian language in the Constitution in days when the story of its EU membership has never been more topical in Montenegro.
Part of the ruling majority, led by Mandić and the leader of the Democratic People's Party (DNP) Milan Knežević, has been demanding a change to the highest legal act for the past few years to give the Serbian language official status. At the end of last year, part of the majority voiced the idea of making the Bosnian language an official language. According to the Constitution, Serbian and Bosnian (along with Albanian and Croatian) are in official use, while Montenegrin is the official language.
Due to the complicated procedure for amending the Constitution in the language section (two-thirds support in parliament and at least three-fifths of all voters in a referendum are required), which makes it practically impossible, the NSD and DNP advocated legally questionable ideas for the realization of their request, such as organizing a constitutional assembly and "adding" a new article to the highest legal act.
Laković: It's all about the agreement and the "barometer"
Member of Parliament for Europe Now (PES), Miso Lakovic He told "Vijesti" that the topic Mandić is talking about currently has no essential or linguistic significance, but rather one of identity.
"This topic is also further fueling identity issues, and we all remember how, in the time before the census, these topics were used to raise tensions in Montenegro. I believe that, at this moment, we do not need these tensions in any way and that these issues should be avoided," he said.
Laković said that if there are official initiatives on this topic, he will not support them until the country closes all chapters in negotiations with the EU and Montenegro's membership in that community is completely certain. Therefore, he emphasizes that this issue should be addressed after joining the Union.
"We first signed a coalition agreement at the beginning of the formation of this parliamentary majority and Government, which clearly points us in that direction - that our priorities are European integration, the rule of law and the economic well-being of the citizens of Montenegro, and that all topics that distance us from these priorities are counterproductive at this moment," the interlocutor underlined.
The agreement on government states that its constituents will refrain "from all topics that may renew or deepen divisions, with the aim of building a united future for all citizens of Montenegro."
Laković stated that what was written in the coalition agreement was additionally strengthened by the government's platform "Barometer 26", whose signatories pledged to leave identity issues aside.
"And let's focus on what the citizens of Montenegro are asking of us, because we know that almost 80 percent of citizens are asking for our accelerated accession to the EU, so I certainly think that this (Mandić's) initiative, if formalized, is counterproductive at this point," Laković assessed.
“Barometer 26” was initialed only by a part of the government, not including the NSD and DNP. The document stipulates that “polarizing issues” (“identity issues and other issues that may cause ethnic or religious tensions or destabilize the national security of Montenegro”) should be left to “a special mechanism for resolving these issues”, which includes working groups, as well as parliamentary committees where the given issues will be processed with expert support from the academic community.
Head of the PES parliamentary group, Vasilije Carapić He told Radio Television of Serbia at the end of August that he was aware of "a kind of discrimination against the Serbian issue" during the rule of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), but that it was, nevertheless, a topic for some "peaceful times."
Bogdanović: Beware of wrong timing
President of the club of deputies of the Democrats Boris Bogdanovic, told the editorial staff that due to the "importance" of the Serbian language issue, it must be protected from wrong timing and political abuse.
"Because any pushing of the topic at a time when the constitutional conditions and the necessary majority do not exist - would not produce a solution, but new tensions, the price of which would be paid to the detriment of both the state and citizens who speak the Serbian language," he stated.
Bogdanović said that Serbian is the language of a large number of Montenegrin citizens, and that is precisely why this topic must be discussed responsibly, precisely and without illusions.
"The constitution is extremely rigid in the part that relates to language and identity issues. Changing that part of the constitution involves the most demanding constitutional procedure: a two-thirds majority in the Assembly, and then a three-fifths confirmation of all registered voters in a referendum. This is an extremely complex legal and political process that requires broad social consensus and a stable political atmosphere," he claims.
The interlocutor pointed out that, at a time when the European future of a country is being decided, any topic that can easily be taken out of the institutional framework and turned into a dividing line - carries the risk of slowing down or complicating the path that is of essential importance for all citizens.
"Our goal is for Montenegro to enter the EU as a stable, institutionally strong state, with irreversible European standards. Within such a framework, identity issues receive permanent and fair protection, free from daily political calculations. This is a path that does not postpone rights, but rather protects them, and therefore it is the only responsible path," Bogdanović said.
According to data from the population census conducted in December 2023, the majority of Montenegrins speak Serbian - 43,18 percent (269.307 citizens), followed by Montenegrin - 34,52 percent (215.299), and Bosnian - 6,97 percent (43.470).
Albanian is spoken by 5,25 percent of the population (32.725), Russian by 2,36 percent (14.731), and Serbo-Croatian by 2,08 percent (12.999). 1,71 percent of the population (10.691) did not want to say what language they speak.
Camaj: Life's questions first
Vice President of the Assembly, Nikola Camaj (Albanian Forum) told the newspaper that, at this point, the common priority should be the harmonization of legal legislation with EU standards.
"And we must be maximally committed to that. Citizens also expect us to address existential issues, so our focus, in addition to the EU agenda, must include resolving those matters that concern the daily life and work of all citizens of this country," he stressed.
Camaj said that he believes that identity issues, as well as the status of the Serbian language, should be addressed after EU membership, because, he added, the country still has a lot of work to do, despite good results in the European integration process.
"Because of the EU, but above all because of all of us who live here. Otherwise, I see EU integration as a safer, better and more beautiful future," said Camaj.
Čapuni: Pollution in Pljevlja is a threat
And a member of the Albanian Alliance Ilir Chapuni agrees that it is not the right time to talk about language.
"We Albanians know best what language restrictions mean. I am more concerned about the shortcomings of the fiscal system of Montenegro, in which, for example, Ulcinj generates significant amounts of tax, and receives only crumbs back. We should also be more concerned about the coastal zone management system, about which citizens and representatives of all six coastal municipalities loudly declare that they are discriminated against and that it is not good. In addition to these, there are a number of issues that deserve more attention and goodwill, such as the pollution of Pljevlja and the construction of collectors in the municipalities," Čapuni told "Vijesti".
He emphasized that the position of the Albanian Alliance is that the language issue can be opened once all negotiation chapters have been successfully closed.
"Then we will think within the framework and broader ecosystem of the Union, and we will be able to open up all the issues that concern us, which were not regulated during the accession negotiations," said Čapuni.
Letter from CIVIS Maja Vučelić She announced the day before last that the topic imposed by Mandić does not lead to solving the real problems of citizens.
Miličić: We are closing chapters with Serbian
Spokesperson of the NSD, Mirko Miličić He assessed yesterday that "the propaganda machine that claims that the Serbian language is hindering our European path has automatically started, as if it has been destroying Montenegro for thirty years, creating criminal clans, causing it to languish in corruption and be recognized as the European capital of the mafia."
"Well, unlike the ventriloquists of that, fortunately, past dark time, we see things completely differently. No, you didn't misread the title, among other things, the Serbian language is responsible for Montenegro closing five negotiation chapters today, if for no other reason than because we used it while we were negotiating with our partners the dynamics of the work and how to achieve the goals set before us by the citizens," he said.
Đukić: He doesn't have the majority to "shake things up"
Civic activist Stefan Djukic He told the editorial staff that he did not see anything controversial in Mandić's statements - in the sense that this has been the NSD leader's policy for a long time, and that he raises these issues once every few months.
"He hasn't worked on fulfilling anything so far, as far as we know, but it's his campaign promise that he's making - whether for the sake of his voters, whether to increase his influence in society... I don't see anything controversial in everyone advocating for their own part of politics, so voters will decide what's closest to them," he said.
When asked if now was the time to address that issue, while the country was fighting a battle for the EU, Đukić replied that he "does not see how Mandić is endangering it" because he does not have a majority that "can shake things up."
"All those who don't want to talk about it have an easy way to remove the issue from the daily scene, that is - not to respond to it. Mandić and the entire former Democratic Front do not have the majority to bring down the government. So, whoever wants to talk about this issue will have to respond and continue to deepen it. We know that all those who say that it shouldn't be talked about will do so because they are comfortable in these identity discussions, no matter who mentions them and no matter where they are from," said Đukić.
Mandić has said on several occasions in the Parliament, after some important decisions were made, that the current ruling majority can change the Constitution.
DPS: Anti-state politics; SD: Daily political show
The repeated mention of the issue of the status of the Serbian language was met with harsh reactions from some members of the opposition.
The DPS claims that Mandić's speech once again confirmed that, even as the speaker of parliament, he continues to implement "anti-state policies."
"His statement... is an expected continuation of a policy calculated to divide Montenegrin society, and this is obvious at a time when our country, thanks to its EU partners, is on its way to escape from the 'Serbian' world into the European world," they assessed.
Social Democrat MP Boris Mugoša said that this was "another daily political performance of revisionism and retrogradeness (for internal use)."
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