The proposal to amend the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns, which would lift the ban on social payments to state bodies in the election year, will be part of the overall package of measures planned by the Government for companies, citizens and private individuals to mitigate the economic consequences of the pandemic, "Vijesti" confirmed.
On Saturday, Prime Minister Duško Marković called on the deputies and the Assembly to check the expediency of the ban on granting financial aid to citizens, and then yesterday, as announced by the Government, he formed a working group in coordination with its economic departments to prepare a proposal for a new package of support measures for companies, entrepreneurs and to citizens.
In a statement to "Vijesta", the head of the parliamentary group of the Democratic Party of Socialists, Nikola Rakočević, welcomed the "responsible approach of the Prime Minister", stating that "it is obvious that the Government and all state bodies are doing an excellent job in the current circumstances".
The head of the Special Club of Deputies, Aleksandar Damjanović, assessed the Prime Minister's announcement to create an environment for new emergency economic measures with the Parliament as a positive one, stating that all decisions must have a legal basis, in a situation of an undeclared state of emergency.
The Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns prohibits the payment of social benefits from the current budget reserve at the national and local levels six months before the deadline for holding parliamentary or local elections. It is one of the more limited uses of government resources in a campaign.
On Saturday, the Prime Minister expressed his conviction that the current "situation imposes the need to change the appropriate norms of the Law... and to abolish restrictions during public health threats".
The DPS previously announced that the parliament should change a set of laws concerning the current situation, stating that it would also concern the salaries of healthcare workers. Nikola Rakočević said yesterday that "the legal framework should create an assumption to help the most socially distressed citizens, employees and the economy" and that "then it is absolutely certain that the DPS Deputies Club will be there to support the Government's proposal or jointly, with other clubs MPs, in communication with the Government, propose legal solutions".
"This is not the time for party contests and political races. We maturely and responsibly approach the need to create measures to respond to, undoubtedly, the negative consequences that the pandemic will have on the socio-economic environment in Montenegro.
Complete solutions are needed based on a homogeneous political approach of all actors both in the Government and in the Parliament. Such an agreement was reached at the Collegium of the President of the Assembly. "No attempt to propose populist measures, without adequate analysis, contributes to a quality solution to the common problem," says the head of the DPS club.
Aleksandar Damjanović reminds that he indicated that the measures to rehabilitate the severe economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic must have a legal basis: "Whether in the form of changes to a large number of laws or the adoption of a special lex specialis, remains to be assessed. I believe that it is a positive announcement by the Prime Minister that together with the Parliament, he creates the environment for new urgent economic measures, because they were originally only a drop in the ocean. This also applies to changes to the otherwise unilaterally adopted law on the financing of political entities and election campaigns, especially articles 38 and 40, which define social transfers in the election year," he said.
The MP also states that the socially vulnerable, the retail, catering, and entrepreneurs sectors should have the support of the state, as well as thousands of those whose jobs are at risk, through no fault of their own.
MP and president of the Liberal Party, Andrija Popović, told "Vijesti" that the party expects the government to urgently submit to the parliament proposals for amendments to the Law on mitigating the economic consequences of the coronavirus and changes to the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns.
"It is clear to both the parliamentary majority and the minority that the economic substance of Montenegro must be saved and that it is not time for any politicization. Of course, increased supervision must also be provided to prevent possible abuse," Popović assessed.
On Saturday, the Social Democratic Party replied to Marković that the law whose amendment he is calling for was adopted at the end of December 2019 precisely by the votes of the party of which he is the deputy president and its coalition partners, bypassing the opposition and the agreement with the opposition. "Therefore, we expect the prime minister to be precise in his political calls, because otherwise the call could have other intentions and connotations. We also remind you that the Government is authorized by the Constitution to propose laws to the Assembly, explain the expediency and the reasons for the proposal", stated the SDP.
IA: Social assistance should go through the centers and be transparent
The Institute of Alternatives warned of the importance of transparent disposal of budget funds and fairness of distribution: "Enable the Government to respond to citizens' requests for material assistance through the current budget reserve in this period will strengthen the practice of non-systemic allocation of social assistance with discretionary and non-transparent decision-making. By redirecting or rebalancing the budget, it is necessary to transfer money from the current budget reserve to the budget of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare, that is, the centers for social work. In this way, it would be possible for one-time benefits to go through the procedure prescribed by the law on social and child protection and by-laws, as well as for people who seek and receive help to be included in the information system of social care", warned Alternativa, following the Prime Minister's announcement about the need for help to citizens from the current budget reserve.
The IA reminds that for years they advocated that the ban on social benefits from the current reserve in the election year be valid throughout the Government's mandate, and that they unsuccessfully tried to obtain data on the spending of money from that budget item based on the decisions of the Cabinet of the Government, which were declared secret . They indicate that this year's budget has planned 2,2 million for one-time social assistance, although the law on financing political parties does not allow this in an election year.
Support package for citizens and the economy until April 6
The goal of the new government package of measures is to provide assistance to citizens, the economy and entrepreneurs to save resources, employees and activity, it was announced yesterday, after the coordination of the government's financial and economic departments.
The proposals of the Working Group formed by the Prime Minister should, as stated, be formulated by April 6, that is, within 5 to 7 days. Before the Government adopts them, it is explained that "they should be considered in dialogue with social partners". The first measures included, among other things, the postponement of loan repayment for up to 90 days, deferred payment of taxes and salary contributions for 90 days, a more favorable IRF loan...
At the meeting, it was established that the state authorities and the health system have so far successfully opposed the coronavirus pandemic, that saving the health and lives of citizens is a priority, but that it is necessary to initiate processes that will respond to the economic aspect of the pandemic, the Government announced.
SD and LP support the plan as long as it is in the service of protecting citizens
Bosniak Party MP Ervin Ibrahimović expressed his expectation that the prime minister "as one of the most responsible in the chain of organization, prevention and protection above all of the health, social and economic position of citizens" was guided by the need to protect the health and lives of citizens. "As long as the Government has not used its constitutional right to propose laws to the Parliament, I perceive the Prime Minister's statement as a responsible call for additional attention and mobility of citizens and the entire society. "The Parliament monitors the situation every day and, in accordance with its constitutional powers, undertakes and is ready to undertake activities when it judges that it is expedient," said the BS deputy to "Vijesta".
The head of the Social Democrats and LP club Boris Mugoša says that at the last extended collegium, they suggested to the government to initiate the adoption of new or changes to existing laws that would enable the country to successfully deal with the coronavirus epidemic. He states that one possibility was "the passing of a general law, that is, the lex specialis, which would include all the necessary measures to combat the coronavirus and its consequences and leave room for the Government to define activities in the following period as well." "We consider it justified to see the need to change the above and other laws, which will make it easier for citizens and the economy to deal with the negative consequences of the epidemic," he said.
Bonus video:
