Youth participation in elections

While Montenegro maintains a leading position in regional participation indices, the actual engagement of young people in electoral processes reveals a significant gap between institutional framework and civic reality.

Youth participation in democracy in Montenegro reflects a broader regional pattern characterized by limited formal political engagement, relatively low institutional influence, and stronger involvement in non-institutional forms of civic activity. According to the Regional Youth Participation Index (YPI 2024), young people in Montenegro face structural and social barriers that reduce their ability and willingness to actively participate in formal democratic processes, even though they are not politically indifferent.

One of the key findings regarding Montenegro is the relatively weak presence of young people in formal political institutions. Youth are significantly underrepresented in decision-making bodies such as the parliament, government structures, and local councils. This lack of representation contributes to a perception among young people that political institutions are not inclusive and do not adequately reflect their interests or needs. As a result, their direct influence on public policy remains limited.

In addition to low institutional representation, youth in Montenegro demonstrate relatively low levels of trust in political institutions. Many young people perceive political processes as distant and unresponsive, which reduces their motivation to engage in formal political activities such as voting, joining political parties, or participating in institutional consultations. This lack of trust is one of the central factors contributing to political disengagement.

However, the YPI 2024 findings also show that youth participation in Montenegro is more visible in the area of civic and social engagement. Young people are more likely to participate in non-governmental organizations, volunteer activities, grassroots initiatives, and informal forms of activism. This suggests that while they may be disengaged from formal political structures, they are not disengaged from society or public life in general. Instead, their participation tends to shift toward alternative and more flexible forms of engagement outside institutional politics.

Another important factor influencing youth participation in Montenegro is the economic and social context. High youth unemployment, job insecurity, and limited career opportunities contribute to a sense of uncertainty about the future. This often leads to a prioritization of economic stability over political involvement. In many cases, young people also consider emigration as a more viable option than long-term engagement in domestic political processes, which further reduces their political participation.

The main barriers to youth participation in democracy in Montenegro can be grouped into structural, institutional, and socio-economic factors. Structurally, there are limited mechanisms for meaningful youth inclusion in decision-making processes. Institutionally, political systems remain dominated by older generations, with few formal channels for youth influence. Socio-economically, unemployment and instability discourage sustained civic and political engagement.

Youth participation in democracy in Montenegro is characterized by a clear gap between civic engagement and formal political involvement. While young people are active in civil society and informal activism, their participation in institutional politics remains limited due to low trust, weak representation, and socio-economic challenges. Strengthening youth participation in Montenegro therefore requires not only institutional reforms that open space for young people in decision-making, but also broader efforts to rebuild trust and improve socio-economic conditions that shape their engagement with democracy.

However, The Government of Montenegro has been actively developing and implementing policies aimed at improving the situation of young people, particularly in the field of employment and social inclusion. One of the key measures is the Youth Guarantee, which is designed to support young people in their transition from education to the labour market by offering timely opportunities for employment, further education, internships, or training. This policy reflects the government’s commitment to reducing youth unemployment and enhancing their skills and competitiveness.

Through cooperation with European partners and continuous reforms of public employment services, Montenegro is strengthening its support systems for young people. These efforts contribute to better career prospects, improved employability, and greater inclusion of youth in socio-economic life.

 Statistical Context and Participation Trends

In 2024, Montenegro recorded the highest Youth Participation Index in the Western Balkans (69.7). However, this score is largely driven by formal structures, as research indicates that 62.7% of young people remain entirely uninterested in politics.

Following the 2023 parliamentary elections, which saw a record low general turnout of 56.3%, data suggests that youth turnout continues to lag behind the national average. This trend is a primary concern for the Strategy for Youth 2023–2027, which aims to revitalize youth interest in democratic processes.

According to recent studies, 57% of young people claim there is no politician they trust, while nearly half (48%) feel that decision-makers do not address them or their specific needs directly.

Barriers to Meaningful Engagement

Youth political participation in Montenegro remains limited due to a combination of structural, institutional, and perception-based barriers that reduce both interest in and access to formal democratic processes.

Researchs show that one of the most significant obstacles is low trust in political institutions and political actors. Many young people perceive elections, political parties, and decision-making bodies as distant and insufficiently responsive to their needs and priorities. This contributes to political disengagement and strengthens the belief that participation does not necessarily lead to meaningful change.

Closely linked to this is the weak and often symbolic role of youth within political parties. Youth structures are frequently viewed as marginal spaces with limited influence, often activated primarily during election periods rather than serving as genuine channels for shaping party policies or internal decision-making.

Another important barrier is the misalignment between political agendas and youth priorities. A significant number of young people feel that political programmes do not adequately address key issues such as employment, economic independence, and merit-based opportunities. As a result, politics is often seen as disconnected from their everyday realities and long-term aspirations.

In addition, there is a structural disadvantage in political representation. The current legal framework in Montenegro does not include mandatory youth quotas in the Law on the Election of Councillors and Members of Parliament. This limits the presence of young candidates on electoral lists and reduces their opportunities to access decision-making positions.

These challenges are reinforced by a broader sense of political inefficacy among youth, where many believe that the political system is dominated by older generations and that young people have limited influence over actual policy outcomes.

Institutional Efforts and Education

To combat electoral passivity, the state has implemented several educational mechanisms:

• The Parliament of Montenegro conducts the "Youth Parliament" and "Barbara Prammer" democratic workshops to educate first-time voters on the importance of the secret ballot and legislative impact.

• The government's latest Action Plan includes measures specifically designed to increase political literacy and encourage young people to view voting as a tool for personal and social change.

• Platforms like YOUTHPOINT are being used to track youth sentiments in real-time, providing civil society with the data needed to hold political actors accountable for youth-related promises.

Candidacy and political office

While the legal age for candidacy in Montenegro coincides with the right to vote (18 years), the actual representation of young people in political office remains disproportionately low compared to their share of the population.

Youth Representation in Parliament

In the current convocation of the Parliament of Montenegro, the presence of "young" members (defined as those under 30) is minimal. While the average age of MPs has slightly decreased in recent years, true youth representation is still an exception rather than the rule.

Out of 81 seats in Parliament, typically fewer than 5% to 7% are held by individuals under the age of 30.

Although young MPs are present, they often operate within strict party hierarchies. Research by the Centre for Civic Education (CGO) highlights that youth wings of political parties often serve as logistical support rather than independent ideological drivers.

Youth on Electoral Lists

The position of young candidates on electoral lists is the primary barrier to their entry into Parliament.

• Analysis of recent election cycles shows that while parties include young people on their lists to appear progressive, these candidates are rarely placed in "eligible" positions (the top of the list with a high probability of winning a seat).

• Unlike gender quotas, which are legally mandated, the Law on Election of Councillors and Members of Parliament does not require a minimum percentage of youth on electoral lists, leaving youth candidacy at the total discretion of party leaders.

Influence and Decision-Making

The influence of young people in political office is often perceived as symbolic.

Young MPs are seldom found in "hard" committees like Budget, Finance, or Security, and are instead concentrated in committees for Education, Science, or Sports.

To compensate for the lack of direct representation, the Youth Parliament acts as a consultative bridge, but its conclusions are not legally binding on the official legislature.

Key Challenges for Young Candidates

Young people often perceive that advancement within political offices is based on party loyalty rather than expertise or innovative ideas.

The high cost of political campaigning and the lack of independent funding make it difficult for young, independent candidates to compete with established political figures.

Role of political parties

Political parties in Montenegro serve as the primary yet often restrictive channel for youth participation, as the involvement of young people is frequently confined to youth wings that operate as logistical support for senior party infrastructures. While these branches provide a vital space for political socialization and networking, they rarely function as independent drivers of change, instead, they tend to reproduce existing party hierarchies where young members exert minimal influence over core strategic decisions.

The integration of youth rights into party platforms often remains at a declarative level, characterized by general promises that intensify during election cycles but lack concrete, budgeted action plans for addressing critical issues like unemployment and housing independence. Due to this lack of substantive inclusion and the perception that party loyalty is prioritized over meritocracy, there is a profound sense of distrust among the youth. This sentiment increasingly distances them from formal politics, steering them toward either civic apathy or alternative forms of activism outside the traditional party framework.

Contemporary strategic efforts are focused on strengthening the role of young people within political parties and enhancing their meaningful participation in decision-making processes. These efforts encourage political parties to provide greater opportunities for young candidates to be placed in positions that allow them to have a more significant influence on public policy development. The overall aim is to shift the role of young people within party structures from a largely symbolic presence towards active and substantive participation in shaping and implementing policies that affect their future.

Measures to increase young people’s political participation

Montenegro has implemented comprehensive measures, including the Strategy for Youth 2023–2027  to increase young people's political participation and reduce reliance on party structures. These efforts, which also include educational, economic, and local initiatives, aim to foster a proactive political culture and secure economic independence for young people. Read the full analysis at UNDP.