Montenegro is not an isolated case. Full gender equality has not yet been achieved in any member state of the European Union (EU), although there are currently women in some important and highly responsible positions in Europe.
And those in these positions are not "decor" or a mere quota, but really make decisions.
Some of them are the president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, the director of the International Monetary Fund, Kristalina Georgieva, or the first woman of the European Central Bank, Christine Lagarde.
The picture in Montenegro has changed, a little. We currently have four women in the Government, the Minister of European Integration, Education, Science and Innovation, Labor and Social Welfare, and Culture and Media.
The Parliament has one vice-president.
However, the center of power is on the other side. Still in the post of President of the State and Government, there are no signs of a woman. Leadership positions in parties are reserved for the relatively speaking, "stronger sex". Even when there are negotiations on new coalitions and majorities, party comrades count on themselves the most.
"Which means that under the influence of certain trends, the process of European integration, stories about modernization, certain expectations and needs of the public, the increase in the number of women led to the displacement of a number of men from decision-making positions and that their places were taken by women. However, that the men freed some places, that is, they gave up some places, but they did not give up real power," said Snežana Jonica, a former member of parliament.
"When we talk about the issue of decision-making at party bodies, not only in our party, but we see it from political life and at the level of other parties, it is obvious that it still concerns some of our somewhat patriarchal attitudes that women have no place in politics, but that is a woman's place in the family. That should definitely be changed," said Zoja Bojanić Lalović, MP of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS).
"Regardless of the public advocacy of gender equality within their statutes and programs, the practical application of these ideals remains disappointingly low. The noticeable lack of women in decision-making bodies within the parties stands as testimony to this disparity," said Marija Blagojević (UNDP). .
Zdenka Popović has been a deputy of Democratic Montenegro for many years. In the last assembly convocation, when her party got the position of head of parliament, the party authorities decided on party leader Aleksa Bečić. In the new convocation, they got the position of vice president - so that position was taken by a woman, specifically Popović.
"In the minds of our male colleagues, we are still a burdensome quota of 30 percent. I'm primarily referring to the political parties here, and I'm also referring to the legislative and executive authorities," said Popović.
Active female politicians, Popović and Bojanić Lalović, still believe that in their parties women decide, even though, for example, no woman was involved first in the discussions about the mandate, and then in the negotiations about the formation of the government.
"I am sure that if more women are involved in all negotiations, the negotiations will be more successful, and therefore everyone will be better off. As women who have shown throughout history that they successfully solve all challenges, I think that will also be the case in these challenging political times in our country", said Bojanić Lalović.
"I think I was the only woman who participated in the negotiations for the formation of the government, one government, and believe me that the moment I proposed to my colleagues that the head of the government be a woman, within about 40 minutes they all agreed that the solution should be male Popović said.
However, statistics show that not much has changed, even a step back in some segments.
"Electoral lists from the last elections had a 'sobering' effect on all those who take realized women's rights for granted, because we saw that one generation of gender-insensitive politicians is enough to undo years of work," said Blagojević.
Let's go back to women in European politics. Ursula von der Leyen is leading the EU at a time when it is facing its biggest challenges: the economic and migrant crisis, the war in Ukraine, the rise of right-wing currents in all member states. Kristalina Georgieva came to head the IMF at a time when global economic growth is declining and debt is reaching a historically high level. Montenegro, for example, is currently waiting to receive IBAR, and the main person in that process is currently the Minister of European Integration, Maida Gorčević, who is doing a lot of work with her team on that part. If everything ends as it should, will Gorčević be the one to brag about what was done?
"I am convinced that, just like these days, all the information related to IBAR, which should animate the public and increase trust, will be released to the public by the Prime Minister, and that news, if it is positive, will be presented by Mr. Spajić (Prime Minister Milojko Spajić) "In case we don't get IBAR, I believe that the role of the one who will explain why it didn't happen will be left to Mrs. Gorčević," said Jonica.
When we draw the line, on equality, the real one, we will still wait. The latest UNDP research shows that with this dynamic, only 2.155 women will achieve political equality. year, while economic equality will only be reached in 2.277. years. Two hundred years more or less. A trifle.
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