Butorović addresses the third session of the Youth Parliament

During the third session of the Youth Parliament, Minister without portfolio Milutin Butorović welcomed the active participation of a large number of young people in social and political processes that are of key importance for the development of Montenegro.

He emphasized that the 44th Government of Montenegro has taken concrete steps aimed at improving student standards – from increasing scholarships and student loans to raising compensation for professional training of university graduates. All these measures share the same goal: strengthening the motivation of young people and creating space for their work to be recognized and valued.

Therefore, it is extremely important that every social initiative be accompanied by an informed and evidence-based dialogue in which the voices of experts and the wider public are heard, as well as the opinions of young people. Only in this way can decisions be made that align with the interests of democracy and the future of Montenegro.

In addition, Minister Butorović addressed questions regarding lowering the voting age to 16. Considering that the Constitution of Montenegro clearly states that the right to vote belongs to all citizens who have reached 18 years of age, any change to this provision would require amending the Constitution with a two-thirds majority in Parliament and achieving broad political consensus.

Some EU countries, such as Austria, have lowered the age threshold to 16, while the majority of EU member states have maintained the age of 18. The discussion on granting voting rights at 16 must be legally grounded and inclusive, involving political parties, experts, academia, youth organizations, and the general public.

A factual and well-reasoned dialogue, based on the interests of democracy and the future of Montenegro, is the only path toward a legitimate, sustainable, and EU-aligned solution.