Đenero: May 21 is a source of pride, citizens clearly understand what would have happened had Montenegro not restored its independence
While part of the political elite disputes Montenegrin sovereignty and identity, commemorating the date of the restoration of independence has become a matter of political culture and the defense of state values, according to Croatian political analyst Davor Đenero. Speaking to Portal ETV, Đenero emphasized that May 21 has become one of the key symbols of modern Montenegro and an additional reason for citizens to feel proud of the choice they made two decades ago.
Đenero told Portal ETV that he is among those who, over the past several years, regularly congratulate friends in Montenegro on state holidays important in the context of Montenegro’s identity and sovereignty.
- Before August 30, 2020, that never even crossed my mind, because those dates were considered part of the state „heritage“ (the acquis, to use the terminology of European integration), but after that, disputing Montenegrin sovereignty and political identity became part of official policy - Đenero said.
Likewise, he added, every year he congratulates friends in Sarajevo on March 2, Independence Day, and November 27, Statehood Day.
- As long as part of the political elite seeks to undermine state sovereignty, among other things by refusing to recognize foundational dates connected to sovereignty and statehood, celebrating those dates becomes a matter of political culture - Đenero stated.
He added that it seems to him that a large part of Montenegro’s political public has understood this as well, especially in circumstances where it has become completely obvious how much May 21 and the successful referendum on restoring Montenegro’s sovereignty have meant for the country.
- Citizens of Montenegro are aware of all the shortcomings of the current social order, but they also see what it would have meant for them had independence not been declared, and in what kind of „condition“ public authority in the country would be today. Certainly, the fact that Montenegro is now convincingly leading the European integration process further increases citizens’ pride that they, or their ancestors, voted for independence twenty years ago in a referendum with a very high threshold required for success - Đenero said.