Montenegro with fewer Albanians

The data published by CEDEM, from the middle of December last year, during the opinion research, among others, presented data regarding the national structure of the population in Montenegro, where for Albanians they presented the figure of 4.6 percent within the general population, from which it appears that it is lower by 0.3 percent from the population census held in 2011, an issue which remains controversial until the regular population census that should be held during this year, unless otherwise decided in the meantime

CEDEM has been dealing with public opinion research in Montenegro for some time, presenting data of interest to the opinion, where, in addition to the analysis of the political spectrum, it offers data related to the national population structure. Considering that the last census in Montenegro was held in 2011, while the regular census that had to be held last year, the data on the national structure of the population in this environment are also of interest to Albanians, where according to the research of them, Albanians currently represent 4.6 percent of the total population in Montenegro.

The survey as a test of the moment

It is noted that these results are similar to those of the June survey, and the small difference is within the possibility of statistical error of 3.1 percent. In the June survey, 4.1 percent of respondents declared themselves as Albanians, and the increase to 4.6 percent does not mean an increase in their number. However, both of these surveys show a lower percentage of Albanians than in the 2011 census, when 4.9 percent of the population of Montenegro declared themselves as such.

No one doubts that the Albanians have a decrease in their number, because in addition to the unfavorable social circumstances, in the last three years we have been hit by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Albanians are no exception. However, what is the real number of Albanians and how much data can be treated as real by CEDEM, remains a matter for discussion.

Awaiting the regular population census

Without denying the engagement of opinion research by CEDEM, the published data are random, but cannot be ignored because we are dealing with a serious entity in Montenegro, which has experience in this field of research.

Even until the regular census of the population, which will probably be held during this year, if it is not decided otherwise, this subject can organize another research, providing us with other data. However, there is no doubt that the data from the official population census will be valid, regardless of the percentage of participation of Albanians in the general population in Montenegro.

However, the data related to the change of Albanians in terms of national affiliation and mother tongue is disappointing. Such a phenomenon is not unknown, because it happened even earlier where the number of Albanians who have the Albanian language as their mother tongue is higher, than it belongs to the national affiliation. Therefore, such data will without a doubt be identical in this population census, and it would even be a sensation if the opposite happened. It is another matter why such a phenomenon was present, as a subjective action of the enumerators or the indifferent attitude of the interviewees on the days of the population census.

Diaspora excluded from registration!?

As in the previous population census, this time too, it is likely that the diaspora will be left out of this process of special social importance. There is no doubt that, thanks to the data we have, Albanians are the people who have mostly emigrated, testifying to their unfavorable social position in Montenegro. After the Albanians, the second are the members of the Bosnian people, and then there are the Montenegrins and the Serbs.

The Government's unwillingness to include the diaspora in the population census clearly demonstrates the denigrating policy of the government towards citizens who were born and contributed socially and economically in their homeland.

The exclusion from the population census preceded the deletion from the registration of the place of birth and from the electoral register, in order to participate in elections, whether local or parliamentary. The diaspora does not deserve such an approach, because we remember on this occasion that their votes were decisive in the referendum on the independence of Montenegro, held on May 21, 2006.

Population census not only statistical matter

Regardless of when the population census will be held this year, political parties of Albanians who are parliamentarians must commit to influence the Law on Population, Household and Housing Census through amendments, which must be approved by the Parliament during in the following months, the diaspora should also be highlighted in this case, especially the Albanian diaspora. Such an action should be a political, moral and national obligation, because it is an integral part of our national identity, because the population census is not only a statistical matter.

Also, in the Commission for the preparation of the population census, Albanians should be part of it with professional individuals who know the demographic issues, not only in the process of the census, but also in that of their processing and publication, which are official for this important social process and not only statistical in this environment.