Centre for Civic Education (CCE), on the occasion of 21 February – International Mother Language Day draws attention to the increasingly frequent politicisation of the language issue in Montenegro, which contributes to the political instability of the country.
International Mother Language Day was established in 1999 by UNESCO with the aim of highlighting the importance of preserving linguistic identity as a key cultural component and part of intellectual heritage. On this day, linguistic diversity and multilingualism are promoted worldwide.
Montenegro is a multilingual country. The Constitution of 2007, in addition to the official Montenegrin language, recognises four other languages in official use – Serbian, Bosnian, Albanian, and Croatian. Cyrillic and Latin scripts are equal.
Although the Montenegrin language is standardised, internationally recognised, and codified within the ISO linguistic standard, the denial of its distinctiveness within the broader South Slavic linguistic area still, unfortunately, remains institutionalised.
Recent examples of discrimination against the Montenegrin language include: its omission from the new website of the Revenue Administration, the refusal of the Public Institution National Library “Radosav Ljumović” in Podgorica to print a book in the jot-version of the Montenegrin language, and the publication of a book by the Red Cross of Montenegro in the jot-version, with an explanation that this was “at the author’s request.”
It should not be forgotten that in June 2025 the decision regarding enrolment of students at the Faculty of Montenegrin Language and Literature (FCJK) was placed on the agenda of the Government of Montenegro session as material for discussion, while an identical decision for the University of Montenegro (UCG) was included among materials not subject to discussion. Thus, instead of being formally adopted, the issue became a political question, and the funding for new generations at FCJK was not supported by Democrats, New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Democratic People’s Party (DNP), and Socialist People’s Party (SNP). Without their votes, the funds were not secured, but after public pressure, the Government on the same day reversed its decision and approved the funding. At the new vote, Minister of Health Vojislav Šimun and Deputy Prime Minister Filip Ivanović, both members of the party presenting itself as civic-oriented, Europe Now Movement (PES), did not support the allocation of funds for FCJK.
Additionally, Serbian nationalist circles increasingly speak about the need to amend Article 13 of the Constitution, which regulates the issue of language. The CCE reminds that the status of the Serbian language in Montenegro is regulated in the same way as in neighbouring Serbia, where Article 10 of the Constitution of the Republic of Serbia defines it as the language in official use. It is clear that initiating such amendments is primarily of a political nature and opens room for deepening social divisions.
Linguistic diversity is the richness of Montenegro, and no one should be denied the right to express themselves in their mother tongue. On International Mother Language Day, we call on all social actors to respect the laws and the Constitution of Montenegro, especially concerning the status of the Montenegrin language.
Ivan Kašćelan, Project Assistant