The Social Democrats commented that the parliamentary majority and the Government did not accept any of the amendments proposed by the party's deputies to the Budget Bill.
They say that these amendments did not require additional funds in the budget, but rather proposed reducing "certain irrationally projected items in the 2025 budget" and directing those funds to support socially vulnerable categories, creating new jobs, and improving the competitiveness of the Montenegrin economy.
"They did not accept reducing the amount for official travel and representation by 2,5 million euros and directing those 2,5 million euros to increase support for the most vulnerable categories (beneficiaries of material security). We remind you that as much as 2025 million euros were planned for official travel and representation in 9,1, while in 2024 they were budgeted at the level of 6,6 million euros, while MOP beneficiaries, as the legally poorest category, have been receiving around 90 euros (individual) to 170 euros (family of five) for years," the statement reads.
Also, the SD points out, an amendment was rejected that proposed reducing the amount for temporary contracts, projected for 2025 "in the amount of as much as 16,6 million euros", by one million euros and directing that one million euros towards free transportation and snacks for children from socially vulnerable families.
"The proposal of the SD to reduce the amount for consulting services by 2 million euros and direct those 2 million euros to improving the competitiveness of our economy was also not accepted. We remind you that consulting services were projected to amount to as much as 45 million euros in 2025, while in 2024 they were budgeted at the level of 34 million euros. Finally, the amendment by which we proposed to increase the amount of budget funds for active employment policy measures by 1,5 million euros, i.e. for creating new jobs, was not accepted, in a way that would reduce by that amount the funds for Lawyer, Notary and Legal Services, which were increased by as much as 2025% in the 30 budget compared to 2024 (an increase of 2,3 million euros). Only 2025 million euros were projected for active employment policy measures in the 3,7 budget," adds the SD.
The party's amendment to the Proposal for a Decision on Montenegro's Debt for 2025 was also not accepted. The party proposed that the potential amount of debt of up to 1,4 billion euros this year be reduced by 200 million euros, because they believed that it was necessary to "reduce the state's new debt with more efficient management of public finances and rationalization of unproductive spending."
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