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Serbian language divides Montenegro

2026-02-06 19:57:55Kosova&Bota SHKRUAR NGA REDAKSIA VOX
Serbian language divides Montenegro

Identity issues in Montenegro were reopened.

The debate over language, statehood and flag was fueled by Milan Kne?evi?'s pro-Serbian Democratic People's Party (DNP), at a time when Montenegro is making progress in the European integration process.

It was precisely for these issues that the DNP left the Government, although its survival was not put at risk.

The government of Prime Minister Milojko Spajic continues to have a parliamentary majority even without the DNP.

Nikollette Djukanovic, a lecturer at Donja Gorica University in Podgorica, told Radio Free Europe that fostering political instability and problematizing identity issues aim to complicate the European integration process.

"I think this is more about influence from Belgrade than a real need to bring these issues to the forefront," she says.

The DNP, close to official Belgrade, left the Government on January 30, after it did not declare itself on the demands of this party regarding identity issues.

The DNP also left the local government in Podgorica.

It calls for constitutional changes to make Serbian an official language, as well as the adoption of the Law on Citizenship, which would allow dual citizenship without the right to vote for people living in Serbia but originally from Montenegro.

The party also demands a change in the rules for state symbols, so that the Serbian tricolor flag is declared a national flag and used alongside the state flag of Montenegro.

The Serbian tricolor was designated as the flag in the 1905 Constitution of the Principality of Montenegro.

What did the census results show?

Following the publication of the results of the October 2024 census, pro-Serbian parties in Montenegro renewed their demand for the Serbian language to become an official language in the country.

According to the Constitution of Montenegro, the Montenegrin language is designated as the official language, while the Serbian language is in official use along with Bosnian, Croatian, and Albanian.

The census results showed that Serbian is the mother tongue of 43 percent of the population, while Montenegrin is the mother tongue of just over 34 percent.

According to the census, 41.1 percent of citizens declared themselves as Montenegrins, while 32.9 percent as Serbs.

The census was preceded by a campaign by pro-Serbian and pro-Russian forces and media, which called on citizens to declare themselves as Serbs.

After the results were published, pro-Serbian parties in Montenegro demanded that the Serbian language be declared an official language.

But, later, an agreement was reached within the governing coalition that identity issues would not be raised, so as not to hinder the final phase of European integration.

The ruling coalition in Montenegro currently consists of the Europe Now Movement, the Democrats of Montenegro, the Bosniak Party, the New Serbian Democracy, the Socialist People's Party, the Albanian Alternative, and the Albanian Forum.

Why was the Serbian ambassador called in for the conversation?

On the same day that the DNP left the Government, official Podgorica summoned the Serbian ambassador, Nebojša Rodi?, for an informational conversation due to a post regarding the Serbian language.

The "Serbia in English" account, which is managed by the Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy of the Government of Serbia, stated that Montenegro "does not recognize the Serbian language", which is spoken by 43 percent of citizens and is "the language of the majority according to the latest census".

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro described this post as an inappropriate comment on the status of the Serbian language in the country.

In response, the Serbian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that everything had been "misinterpreted."

According to her, the post was made on an informal account of a government office and "had nothing to do with the constitutional or legal order of Montenegro, but, with a dose of humor, it aimed to emphasize the well-known fact that the Serbian language is part of the identity of a significant number of citizens in Montenegro."

The Serbian ministry assessed that it is "surprising" that a post on social networks is treated as an interstate issue.

At the head of the Serbian Government's Office for Public and Cultural Diplomacy is Arno Gujon, an official of the Serbian Progressive Party, who previously had connections with right-wing extremists in France.

Opening "closed topics"

Retired Belgrade University professor and former politician, Zarko Korac, says that Knezevic, taking advantage of Belgrade's full support, is trying to achieve a more significant political outcome in Montenegro.

"It is now quite clear that Belgrade is very nervous, because Montenegro is moving much faster towards European integration, while Serbia stopped this path over three years ago," Korac tells Radio Free Europe.

Montenegro is considered a leader among candidate countries for membership in the European Union, while Serbia has not opened any negotiation chapters since December 2021.

Speaking to pro-government media in Belgrade, Kne?evi? denied seeking advice from Serbian President Aleksandar Vu?i? or receiving instructions from him.

He stated that Serbs in Montenegro face challenges in realizing their rights and that an institutional struggle is necessary to achieve full equality.

According to Montenegrin media, Prime Minister Spajic declared on January 29 that the place for the initiative and consideration of the Serbian language issue is the Parliament of Montenegro.

On February 2, the DNP submitted amendments to the Law on State Symbols and Statehood Day to the Parliament of Montenegro, proposing the use and raising of the historical folk flag.

She also submitted amendments to the Citizenship Law.

Kne?evi? announced a conversation with the leader of the New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Andrija Mandi?, about further actions of the coalition "For the Future of Montenegro".

Before the conversation, Kne?evi? said it is "a bit strange that one part of the coalition is in power, while the other is in opposition."

This coalition is made up of the DNP and the NSD.

"At this moment, the Speaker of the Assembly, Mandic, has a much greater influence as a representative of one of the Serbian parties than Knezevic," Korac estimates.

What will be the effect of the DNP step?

Nikolleta Djukanovic says that the coalition parties do not have a common position on identity issues – meaning they have different interests or at least different paths to achieve what they want.

"If there were better coordination between the DNP, Mandic's party and the other parties that remain in government, it would be an alarm not only for the new parliamentary elections, but also for the political situation in general," she says.

But, since this is not the case, "a solution can easily be found to preserve this government," according to her.

General elections in Montenegro are expected to be held in 2027. /REL


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