Spajić: The French Ministry of Health wants to finance a feasibility study for the construction of a hospital in Podgorica

The French Ministry of Health wants to finance a feasibility study for the construction of a hospital in Podgorica, regardless of whether local contractors will be chosen to build that facility, Prime Minister Milojko Spajić said.

He said this at a press conference on the occasion of cooperation between Montenegro and France. He pointed out that they are willing to donate to that study and that they will work on it quickly.

The Prime Minister clarified that this cooperation has four pillars, among them defense, ecology, infrastructure... He stated that an interstate agreement for training and patrol ships has already been signed for defense.

Spajić stated that the fourth pillar refers to infrastructure, and that, as already announced, Elektroprivreda cooperates with the company "EDF" on the consideration of projects. He stated that they are also considering financing the infrastructure through public-private partnerships, because that way huge investments can be made in a fiscally sustainable way. He stated that the state is ready to finance all projects on its own, but that they are looking for ways not to burden public finances.

He stated that in July the final decision of the European Commission on the grant of 40 percent of the value of the project for the construction of the second section of the Mateševo ​​- Andrijevica highway, which can amount to between 200 and 250 million euros, will be known, whereby the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development ( EBRD) to grant a loan of 200 million euros to Montenegro. He pointed out that he will continue lobbying these institutions for the completion of highways and investments in railways.

Spajić added that the French company "Bouygues", with whom they talked, is interested in working on nine sections of highways and expressways, except for the Mateševo-Andrijevica one. He explained that this company also carried out work in neighboring Croatia.

He also stated that the Government is considering the centralization of state administration, which would allow eight to nine thousand employees to work in one place.

"That project would imply a more efficient administration, there would be no crowds. They would not have security problems such as digging tunnels, they would make a green transition, they would have solar panels," said Spajić.

He explained that with that step, the administration could work in one building, while the other premises could be rented out, which could significantly reduce or completely cancel this type of investment.

Spajić: Citizens' trust in the electoral process is shaken

When asked if there is a deadline by which the issue of elections in Šavnik will be completed, Spajić stated that he believes that electoral reform is needed and that it should have already been done. He pointed out that citizens' trust in the electoral process has been shaken and that a "supermajority" is needed for these changes and that he will advocate for this to happen as soon as possible.

"The Freedom House report emphasized the terrible level of local self-governance. I think that local self-governance is the cancer of Montenegro's wounds, they will have to undergo reform," he pointed out, and stated that the financing of municipalities is also inadequate and a separate problem.

He explained that they have few responsibilities and large budgets, and that in Croatia they have basic education, primary health care and other responsibilities, and similar budgets.

He stated that the census issue was resolved through the agreement, and that he believes that this process can also be completed. He pointed out that this issue is unnecessarily burdensome and that the issue of electoral reform is addressed to the Assembly. He added that he is ready to lead a dialogue to solve the problem, to make the process inclusive and wants it to be done in the Assembly. He stated that the Committee for Electoral Reforms should deal with this work.

"I don't see the possibility of elections in Podgorica"

He also referred to the statement of the leader of Free Montenegro (SCG), Vladislav Dajković, that elections are possible in Podgorica in the fall, and that he does not see such a possibility for now because the government and the majority are stable.

"We are working intensively on the fulfillment of the European agenda, that plan is going well, and we expect a response from the European Commission on April 19. I hope that then we will have more information about where Montenegro is as far as IBAR is concerned. Of course, there will certainly be additions, comments from from our side, answers... By the beginning of May, I expect that we will have the final position of the European Commission and the majority of member states, whether we will have IBAR in June," he said.

He stated that it is irresponsible to bid on whether Montenegro will have IBAR, that the process is difficult and that irresponsible statements do not support it. He explained that they expect to close ten chapters by the end of 2024, and that IBAR is just the beginning of the entire process. He stated that through IBAR, it will be possible for people from the system to close chapters from their departments, which they could not do until now.

When asked about the report of the organization Freedom House entitled "Countries in Transition 2024", which classified Montenegro into hybrid regimes, i.e. countries in which regular changes in the ruling elite undermine the lack of sense of structural change over time, Spajić stated that progress was noted in this regard. list and that it refers to the situation until the end of 2023. He believes that it does not apply to the current situation.

He explained that he was a non-partisan figure in the 42nd Government and that he did not have the support of the Assembly for any undertaking. He explained that for Europe now 1 he did not have the support of deputies and that he accepts responsibility. He stated that he accepts the responsibility that the public debt was reduced, that he participated in the preparation of the last three of the four budgets.

"We will work on correcting such a report...", he said.

Prime time potentially in mid-May

On the occasion of the prime minister's hour scheduled at the end of the month, which he will not attend, Spajić stated that state interests come before all others. He added that at that time he was on an important visit abroad and that the second appointment could be scheduled for mid-May.

"We announced the visit two months ago, I don't understand why this fame and we constantly have these problems. We will all see each other in the middle of May. I also told Mr. Kontar, he says that our topics will not be relevant in two weeks. If they are not relevant in two weeks, those topics are not relevant now and never," Spajić said.

He explained that as a taxpayer who watches the events in Supština, he would say that he does not want to finance it.

"I don't want to finance a circus. I want to finance responsible people who will make decisions for the benefit of the citizens. From that perspective, I think it's a waste of time. I think the Parliament must focus on its work, there is no law that the Parliament presented alone. Where is the Law on the Assembly, where are many other initiatives that should have been completed, none of them are there," Spajić pointed out, adding that the responsibility is not only on the President of the Assembly Andrija Mandić, but on all deputies.

He asked the question, whether the goal is to present the truth or create a circus and emphasized that he is defending the interests of taxpayers.

"And not in the interests of a political party that has three deputies or that has nine or twenty deputies. I am interested in the citizens of this country and their interests, Europe now 2, IBAR, salary and pension increases, railways and highways. If they have any evidence about embezzlement to SDT, give all the evidence there. I think they are afraid of some evidence, we see some nervous statements on that issue," he explained.

Asked about the delay in the publication of data on the population and housing census and whether they communicate about the entire process with those with whom they signed the agreement, Spajić stated that he would talk to the director of the Monstat Statistics Directorate Miroslav Pejović and see "where it got stuck".

"I would most like to have a coffee with Živković, Kontar, Abazović, with idle people to talk about some topics, which are 100 percent irrelevant for taxpayers. I guarantee you that the average taxpayer is not interested in that topic, but would like to he never hears that topic again in his life. I am convinced of that, I know that all the idlers of Montenegro are open to coffee and like babies to drink with these topics. I don't want to deal with it, if someone doesn't like our program, they can next time he votes for someone else, no problem," he concluded.

He stated that anyone who does not share the vision of joining the European Union and a better standard of living can present their program and deal with cowboys and Indians and profit from it in the 2027 elections.