Corruption is deeply embedded in various segments of Montenegrin society, significantly undermining citizens’ trust in institutions. The majority of citizens identify systemic problems in the judiciary, healthcare, security, education, and local governance sectors. Although most claim they have not directly witnessed corruption, the high perception of its presence in key sectors serves as a warning that corruption shapes everyday life. Distrust in the system and fear of consequences are the main reasons for not reporting corruption, further complicating efforts to combat this pervasive issue. Citizens recognize these challenges, but institutions lack the integrity, according to findings from the research conducted by the Centre for Civic Education (CCE) as part of the Partnership Against Corruptive Tendencies – PACT project, funded by the U.S. Embassy in Montenegro and the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs.
“It is particularly worrying that the majority of citizens do not trust the integrity of institutions and politicians in the fight against corruption. Negative assessments of the judicial system point to the need for urgent reforms to restore public trust in this important pillar of society. Similarly, high levels of corruption in healthcare, education, security, and local governance highlight the need to strengthen internal controls and holding those responsible for abuses accountable,” states Zvezdana Kovač, Director of Strategy and Communications at the CCE, reflecting on the research findings.
Specifically, 75.3% of respondents perceive Montenegrin society to be corrupt, with the main culprits identified as the system (23.9%), politicians (23.6%), the judiciary and the police (both 15.3%). A smaller percentage places blame on citizens themselves (13%) and the media (7.1%). Perceptions of corruption differ from direct experience, as the majority of respondents (76.1%) claim they have never witnessed corruption. Among those who have, the most frequently cited instances occurred in healthcare (22.7%), police (16.3%), judiciary (11.2%), and during elections (10.5%).
“Less than half of respondents – 45.2% –believe institutions have the integrity to fight corruption, while only 24.1% trust politicians in this regards. The lowest performance ratings in the fight against corruption are given to political parties (1.69 out of 4), followed by the judiciary and the police, while NGOs and the media are rated slightly better (2.16 and 2.11),” explains Kovač, analyzing parts of the data.
“On a positive note, there is a widespread belief that citizens can contribute to the fight against corruption. However, this requires effective mechanisms for reporting and protecting whistleblowers. Also, key recommendations, such as introducing stricter penalties, reducing political employment, and digitizing processes, should be seriously considered as steps toward combating corruption,” she emphasizes.
Further, regarding individual sectors, among the five areas in focus – judiciary, healthcare, security, education, and local governance – the judiciary is perceived as the most corrupt. Additionally, 76% of respondents find anti-corruption measures in the judiciary ineffective. Most complaints from this sector pertain to courts (77.1%), with the prosecution performing slightly better, but still predominantly negative assesments.
Corruption in education is most strongly associated with higher education, particularly private universities and the University of Montenegro, and least with kindergartens. For this sector, the majority (56.5%) considers anti-corruption measures as ineffective, and over a quarter (25.5%) believes employment in education is based on political connections.
A significant perception of corruption also exists in healthcare, primarily associated with hospitals and clinical centres, with a prevailing opinion (69.4%) that anti-corruption measures in healthcare are ineffective. At the same time, citizens suggest stricter penalties and improved internal control as solutions.
In the security sector, corruption is mainly perceived within the police and the Ministry of Interior’s internal control. Almost 76.3% view anti-corruption measures in the security sector as ineffective. Most respondents (83.6%) have not had experience with bribery, but 31.1% believe that connections and nepotism often influence the disregard for the law.
In local governance, corruption is predominantly associated with public procurement and inspections. Some 71.6% of respondents negatively evaluate anti-corruption measures, while 70.3% of corruption cases go unreported due to lack of trust in the system.
“The high perception of selective approaches in tackling corruption further undermines the credibility of institutions. Without clear political will for reforms and concrete measures, corrupt practices and habits will continue to hinder the development of society and democracy in Montenegro. Comprehensive reforms and increased transparency are key to restoring trust in the system,” concludes Kovač.
The survey was conducted from 20 to 29 November 2024, using the CAPI method, on a stratified random sample of 1,000 adult respondents. Expert support for the research was provided by the DAMAR Institute.
Maja Marinović, Programme Associate