In light of the recent local elections in Podgorica, the topic of women's role in politics is once again in focus. Unfortunately, the situation in Montenegro reflects a worrying trend: out of 13 electoral lists competing at the end of September 2024, only one had a woman as its leader. In addition, there are currently no women at the head of any municipality, which represents a significant decline compared to previous decades.
Kaća Đuričković from UNDP, who has been working on women's empowerment issues for many years, warns of the broader systemic causes of this problem.
"The presence of deep-rooted traditional social norms is one of the main reasons for the current state of gender equality, and this system is based on the belief that the public sphere, decision-making and power belong to men, while women are focused on family care and motherhood. This systemic discrimination is not new, and its elimination is a long-term process, because it is embedded in social values that unevenly distribute resources - time, power and money," says Đuričković.
He adds that the crises in recent years have further strengthened the retraditionalization of society, which is clearly reflected in the political sphere.
"The strengthening of nationalisms is part of the same package, and the myth of women as mothers has been elevated to a narrative of survival in the strengthening of nations. In addition, this rise of retrograde forces calls into question other women's rights, such as reproductive rights, which have become easy targets in this environment. This resistance is not just a local phenomenon, but part of a global trend, which makes the overall picture more complex," says Đuričković.
Zdenka Popović, Vice President of the Parliament of Montenegro, agrees that legal quotas for women are not enough, but adds that without quotas, there would not be as many women in politics as there are currently.
"Although quotas guarantee a minimum presence of women on the lists, women's actual influence on key political decisions remains limited," says Popović.
“The introduction of stricter measures, such as increasing quotas to 40% and guaranteeing that at least 40% of elected candidates are women, is proposed as a solution. Although women make up more than half of the population in Montenegro, research shows that 92% of women take on more unpaid household work than men, which affects their ability to engage in politics. Social prejudices and cultural norms further hinder them,” explains Popović.
University professor and long-time MP Branka Bošnjak says that one gets the impression that, regardless of the importance of balanced representation and gender equality in decision-making positions for the benefit of society, this topic is still persistently rejected when it comes to implementation.
"Everyone is always "FOR" in their statements, but the facts deny it. So we are stagnating, our mouths are full of talk about gender equality, but in practice none of it, at least not where there is power, there are no women. Even if they succeed, they are quickly suppressed. Men love power and believe that it belongs to them, they are united and in solidarity in this, while we women always lack that solidarity," says Bošnjak.
The data speaks for itself.
According to current statistics, women hold only 27,16% of seats in the Montenegrin parliament, which is below the regional average. This figure is not surprising considering that Montenegro has never had a woman as prime minister or president. Kaća Đuričković pointed out that since 1946, when women first gained the right to vote, only 26 women have held ministerial positions.
"If all the women who have ever held ministerial positions were gathered together, they would not be able to form a government of average size," Đuričković vividly describes.
She adds that the crises of recent years have further strengthened the retraditionalization of society, which is clearly reflected in the political sphere. Other interviewees also confirm the bleak statistics.
"The fact that no woman has ever held the position of Prime Minister and that we currently do not have a Deputy Prime Minister, despite the large number of deputy prime ministerial positions, suggests deep-rooted social, cultural and political barriers. However, in the 44th Government, we still have 5 female ministers who lead one of the most important departments, which represents a positive incentive and motivation for all young women who see themselves in politics," says Popović.
"There is only one woman in the position of Vice President of the Assembly, and that is merely fulfilling the Rules of Procedure that we, as the Women's Club of the last convocation of the Assembly, managed to amend to ensure that at least one position goes to the less represented gender, and that is one thing they had to fulfill, I doubt they would have done so if it were not an obligation," adds Bošnjak..
Even more alarming is the decline in the presence of women at the local level. Fifteen years ago, Montenegro had four to five female municipal presidents, which is not the case today.
"This is devastating for society and shows how necessary systemic empowerment of women is. Gender equality is not only a matter of justice and equal opportunities, but also a matter of better governance, because different perspectives contribute to making better decisions. If society ignores the potential of women, it misses the chance for more inclusive and balanced development," says Popović.
Challenges of the digital age
One of the new aspects that further complicates the situation is the negative impact of digital platforms. Social networks, while providing a space for public discourse, have become a vehicle for attacks on women in politics.
"Digital violence and misogyny discourage women from getting involved in politics," warns Đuričković.
"These attacks, which include both verbal and media violence, further discourage a large number of women from getting involved in politics and accepting responsible and significant positions," agrees Popović.
Potential for change
However, although the situation appears discouraging, there are opportunities for progress. The process of accession to the European Union represents a unique opportunity to promote gender equality.
"Montenegro cannot afford the luxury of neglecting more than half of its human capital – women. Without their full contribution, society cannot realize its development potential. It is necessary to actively work towards greater inclusion of women in decision-making processes, both in politics and in the economy, because without their participation, society loses a valuable perspective and contribution," says Đuričković.
She adds that harmonizing legislation with EU standards can be a catalyst for change. As an example, she cited a law that provides funding for women's organizations within political parties.
Popović adds that it is important to work on changing the perception of women in politics.
"Society must recognize the value that women bring to decision-making processes. Without their input, we lose valuable perspectives," she concludes.
Bošnjak says that it is necessary to insist on affirmative action, because as a traditional community, we are not yet mature enough to understand for ourselves that gender balance is something that is good for society.
"The Women's Club must rise above daily politics and rigid party rules and stand united on the issue of affirmative action when electoral laws are passed, then the Law on the Government and the Law on the Assembly, because if this is left to men, there will be no women in positions of power, some as decoration and nothing more. The strength lies in women and our unity," the professor concludes.
Despite all the obstacles, the fight for women's equality in politics must not stop. Montenegro and the wider region have an opportunity to build more inclusive societies through education, legislative change, and women's empowerment. Women's emancipation is not only a matter of justice, but also a key prerequisite for development and progress.
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