Montenegro’s 13th July Award has turned into a full-blown political soap opera this year, packed with scandal, abuse, and a massive credibility loss. Out of a sea of brilliant candidates, guess what? The award went exclusively to one ideological faction under the church’s and current government’s thumb. Bećir Vuković, notorious for denying the Montenegrin nation, snagged the prize for his book “Houses of the Homeless” — a book that isn’t even cataloged in Montenegrin libraries! To make matters worse, legal experts say the law was broken because all three awards were handed out in the same category, which is a big no-no.
World-renowned guitarist Miloš Karadaglić thanked the jury but refused to accept the award due to the shady circumstances. Protests erupted in Podgorica, and Montenegro’s president Jakov Milatović slammed the political misuse of the award.
Scientists like Snežana Dragićević warn that these practices send a crushing message to young people and the scientific community: success isn’t measured by knowledge and contribution but by connections and affiliations. If this keeps up, the award’s credibility and public trust in institutions will be lost forever.
Think this is just another boring political drama? Think again. This fiasco is a mirror of a society losing its way, where awards are handed out based on ideology, not merit. So, what do you think? Is it time to bring the 13th July Award back on track, or is it already lost forever? Drop a comment, share a joke, or just vent — this mess deserves some conversation!
