At least 131 former government officials, MPs and judges receive so-called functionaries' allowances per month, which in some cases exceed 2.000 euros.
At least 250.000 euros, or three million euros per year, is set aside from the state budget for benefits, which are received one year after the termination of the position.
These are data and calculations based on information provided to "Vijesta" from the Government, the Assembly and the Judicial Council in response to journalistic questions and based on the Law on Free Access to Information.
Judges who were recently terminated by the Judicial Council because they have acquired the right to retire have the highest compensation, but they are asking for these privileges instead of turning to the Pension Insurance Fund, because they are disputing the legal basis for retirement.
According to the data of the Judicial Council, submitted to "Vijesti" on the basis of the Law on Free Access to Information, 26 judges this year acquired the right to compensation in the amount of their last salary.
They are in the range of 2.000 euros and up to 2.800 - as much as the former deputy president of the Supreme Court Stanka Vučinić has. The amount of her compensation (in the amount of her last salary) is from the website of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption, because she declared her assets upon termination of office. The Council did not submit to "Vijesta" the amounts of fees to which it had given consent.
Data from the Parliament of Montenegro show that 27 former members of parliament receive allowances, which range from 1.445 euros (former member of the Democratic Party, Valentina Minić) to 1.838,3 - the amount of the allowances of Marina Jočić (Democratic Front).
And 13 former advisers to the president and vice president of the parliament, as well as the secretary general and his deputies, live at the expense of the citizens for a year until they get a new job or retire. For example, former general secretary Aleksandar Jovićević (SD) has 1.662,54 euros, and his former deputies Mersudin Gredić and Marija Mirjačić each have 1.319,54 and 1.301,55 euros.
Seven former advisors of Ivan Brajović (Social Democrats), who led the Assembly of the previous convocation, have between 1.200 and 1.400 euros.
When it comes to officials of the former government, "Vijesti" was provided with information that 65 of them have a monthly allowance, which for some will expire soon, while others will receive it until the beginning of next year.
However, this is not the final figure because four government departments did not respond after repeated questions. These are the General Secretariat of the Government and the Ministry of Education, Foreign Affairs and Agriculture.
The information provided is also uneven, so some jurisdictions are in the gross amount, while the Ministry of Capital Investments did not even provide the amounts of compensation, but only the names of former ministers and secretaries who acquired that right.
The most up-to-date is the Ministry of Finance, which provided "Vijesti" with information on all administrations under its jurisdiction.
According to the data, the highest remuneration among Duško Marković's government officials is former Minister of Labor and Social Welfare Kemal Purišić (Bosniak Party) 1.811,19, followed by former Minister of Finance Darko Radunović 1.770,52 and Kenan Hrapović (Social Democrats) 1.716,30 euros.
The Ministry of Economy pays compensation for 10 former colleagues, Finance for 22 (including management), Ministry of Justice for 12, MKI and Ministry of Urban Planning for seven each, Ministry of Public Administration for five and Ministry of Defense for three.
Official allowances were introduced by the Law on Salaries of Employees in the Public Sector. It stipulates that an official who "executes a function professionally has the right to receive compensation for one year after the termination of the function in the amount of the salary he received in the last month before the termination of the function, with appropriate adjustment".
That right ends before the established deadline, if the user gets a job, is appointed to another function on the basis of which he earns income, exercises the right to a pension or requests it himself.
According to the law, the compensation can be extended for another year if during that period the beneficiary acquires the right to a pension, and the decision on this is made by the "working body of the body that elected, appointed or appointed" the official.
These provisions were entered into the law because the Law on Prevention of Corruption for a certain period prohibited public officials from performing tasks that would represent a conflict of interest with their previous work. Also, it should enable them to have something to live on until they find a job, and after the end of the function.
The Ministry of Justice announced that these privileges, which citizens do not have even close to, will be reduced. So far, there is no information that there is any initiative regarding changes to the law.
Jočić, Šabović, Vuković, Đurašković request an extension of their income until retirement
Five MPs who already receive allowances, Marina Jočić (DF), Ljiljana Đurašković (DF), Filip Vuković (DPS), Zvonko Vuković (DPS) and Džavid Šabović (SDP), asked the Parliamentary Administrative Committee to extend their right to them, they learn "News". They stated that they will soon be entitled to a pension, and the decision-making session is scheduled for Thursday, September 23.
Jočić asked for an extension of her salary until November 16, 11, Šabović until March 2021, Vuković until October 2022, 23, Đurašković until January 2022, 13, and Zvonko Vuković is asking for another year, stating that she will be entitled to a pension in 2022 - without a specific date , show the data submitted to the members of the Administrative Board.
MP Dženan Kolić asked the Assembly for a functionary allowance, while Zoran Pažin (DPS) informed his colleagues that from September 1, they should determine the termination of his right to earn. Pažin became a deputy in the new convocation, previously he was the Minister of Justice. He is now a lawyer, which can be seen on the website of the Bar Association.
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