The decision on price caps, which the Government had paused for more than 6 months, has finally come into force. The action was preceded by articles in the media, some of which began with the sentence: "Citizens are mostly satisfied that they will be able to buy products at lower prices in the coming period. As polls say, on the eve of holidays and celebrations, it is good that there will be cheap items in stores..." Coordinator at the Center for Education, Information and Research, Jelena Mitrović, says that "price caps will contribute to a drop in the cost of living by between 2 and 3 percent", which is not a negligible percentage, considering that pensions have been adjusted by 1,98 percent, as well as the amounts of social benefits.
The list with limited prices (according to the announcement on the portals) includes 49 products, which is about twenty less than in the previous campaign, which expired in April. The doubt whether, apart from the Government's indifference to the growth of the poverty rate, one of the reasons for postponing the campaign is the "higher prices, higher VAT" factor has been removed by the fact that the new campaign is scheduled until March 31, 2026, i.e. until the beginning of the tourist season. The commission for negotiations with traders had no sense of the needs of healthy human nutrition, and traders are traders, they do not lower the prices of expensive products, such as meat, fruit, vegetables, etc. Even eggs and bacon are not included in the campaign?! Thus, at limited prices, citizens are offered products that households do not buy every day, as well as products in larger packages, which are also purchased less often. Of the meat, only chicken is offered, because it is the cheapest, and ribs for soup, which traders could get over. The list of products is available on the portals, so I would not list the items, except to say that, in addition to oil, salt, sugar and milk in bags, as basic foodstuffs, it is mainly meat products that have a smaller market share, because they do not belong to a healthy human diet. It is not my intention to contradict the thesis "something is better than nothing", which is advocated by many citizens, which is understandable.
The elderly and people suffering from non-communicable chronic and many other diseases cannot benefit from this action, because it is not advisable for them to consume meat products, even if the Prime Minister's "glovo" distributes them for free to their homes. They need meat, fruit, vegetables... and a diet appropriate to their age and health, which most people can never afford! Single people can also be grateful for the Government's "attention", because they mostly trade in small quantities, so they cannot buy a whole chicken, 800 grams of hot dogs, 500 grams of sour cream... and other products in larger packages. Maybe they buy some smaller meat cuts, pate or tuna, is it convenient to take with them? We will eat marmalade spreads, like in the days of 50-60 years ago. Since there is talk of an imminent "European" increase in the price of electricity (a tax on carbon dioxide from the Pljevlja thermal power plant), perhaps "empathetic" government officials are offering us canned food out of good intentions, instead of meat and other products that need to be cooked?! We cannot pay extra for fruit and vegetables, with or without a promotion, especially in small stores, which are exempt from the obligation to set limited prices.
The facts show that the renewal of the “limited price” campaign is a move by the Government forced on citizens, who, according to politicians, “have never lived better”, with a minimum wage far below the poverty line. The campaign was approached “relaxedly”, in line with the Government’s concern for the poorer sections of the population, as if they were joking with consumers. All in their style!
It is no surprise that there is a small number of products at "limited prices", and their quality, when government ministers and other officials are wondering why the number of sick citizens and the costs of their treatment are growing? The authorities do not care about improving the health care of the population, otherwise they would not offer us canned goods at a discount?! The Minister of Finance is wondering "have we become a sick nation, are we twice as sick as we were before...", viewing everything through the growth of health care costs, and forgetting about the enormous increase in the prices of health services, medicines and medical supplies, in the last five years, to which they themselves contributed. They also forget about the fact that we have 105.000 citizens over the age of 65, which implies an accelerated growth in the number of patients!
Although commodity reserves are only used for market interventions in emergency situations, their formation would play the role of a control mechanism for food prices. Commodity reserves of agricultural and food products, medicines and medical supplies have been talked about since 2022, when the Faculty of Economics conducted a study, and in 2024 the Government formed an interdepartmental working group (whose members are probably compensated). Commodity reserves may be formed, but “we don’t know when”?! It is always good for the ruling structures not to fulfill their promises, so that, year after year, they can promise the same thing to the citizens.
The Prime Minister's promise to open shops for vulnerable segments of the population and provide free delivery of goods to the elderly, sick and disabled is one of the many frivolous stories told by those in power in Montenegro. Although we did not believe this story, it should be commented on because it is a great sin and a shame to deceive the elderly, disabled and sick - people who taught us morality, justice and truth!
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