Picula suggests postponing the census: Carry it out when the political deadlock is over

The rapporteur of the European Parliament for Montenegro, Tonino Picula, submitted today an amendment to the EP Report on Montenegro, in which he states that the population census should be carried out when the political deadlock in the country ends.
The EP vote on the Progress Report of Montenegro for 2022, authored by Picula, is scheduled for tomorrow, and in one of the amendments submitted by MP Pedro Marques in addition to Picula, Montenegro is called upon to conduct the census in accordance with EU standards.
Montenegro is invited to carry out the long overdue population and housing census in accordance with EU and international standards, as soon as the political deadlock in the country ends, so that this important issue is not used as another excuse to strengthen the polarization of society - it is stated in amendment.
As they add, they expect the census to be conducted in an open and transparent manner without any political interference, with a proper count of all recognized national minorities without fear of intimidation or prosecution.
As previously pointed out in the draft Resolution on the progress of Montenegro, the European Parliament welcomes the country's multi-ethnic identity and expects further promotion and respect for all languages, cultural heritage and traditions of local communities and national minorities.
The regret over the fact that social polarization and divisions have intensified was also highlighted, and the need to protect the rights of all national minorities, including their political, social and economic rights, was emphasized.
We remind you that according to the decision of the Government in the technical mandate, the census in Montenegro will be held from November 1 to 15.
The opposition parties, led by DPS, have repeatedly requested its postponement due to, as they stated, the collapsed institutional system and high political tensions in Montenegro. In addition, they state that the goal of the census is national engineering, which is why, as they say, the possibility of a boycott is not excluded.
The DPS pointed out the unclear procedures and the lack of monitoring of the census, and also reminded of the fact that the Government has been in a technical mandate for more than a year, while the Parliament has not been working since July.
In addition to political parties, the postponement of the census was also requested by the Councils of National Minorities in the country.
POBJEDA