Citizens of Montenegro could allocate at least one million euros annually for the gross salaries of MP advisors, which parliamentarians should hire in the future.
President of the Assembly Andrija Mandic he said yesterday in the legislative chamber that a new item will be included in the budget proposal for next year, according to which each deputy will be able to have "one adviser who will help him in his work".
He said at yesterday's parliament session that it should be "one of the biggest steps forward...".
"So someone will hire an expert for this, an expert for that, a former MP... Now we have a large number of young MPs, and they will be able to use the experience and knowledge of others. It is especially good for these big (parliamentary) clubs," Mandic said.
There are 81 deputies in the Assembly. If each of them were to hire a consultant, who would receive an average gross salary that recently amounts to around 1.200 euros, the citizens could pay 97.200 euros per month, 1.166.400 euros per year, and 4.665.600 for the four years that the parliament's mandate lasts. euros.
The amount of salary depends on the name of the future job, the coefficient that the position would have, as well as the level of education and length of service of the employee. If the advisors of MPs were equal to the advisors of ministers, then the cost for citizens would be higher.
Chief and responsible editor of the weekly "Monitor" Milena Perović, calls the idea that MPs can hire an adviser - incredible. She told "Vijesta" that "that 'step forward'" could potentially cost Montenegrin citizens 81 more wages, and that it would probably serve to "sneak unassigned party comrades or former deputies" into the positions of advisers.
"Which is the practice in the executive and legislative authorities, and which Mandić himself suggested as an idea," states Perović.
Mandić did not say whose idea it was that parliamentarians should have advisers. Parliament, as one of the spending units, submits its expenditure proposal for the following year to the Ministry of Finance, and that department decides whether to accept it.
The Ministry is obliged to submit a budget bill to the Parliament by November 15.
Perović says that the idea of introducing MP advisors is inspiring for developing the film script.
"Imagine, for example, ex-experienced MPs advising their young colleagues to be even more silent, perhaps with a raised eyebrow, given that we haven't even heard a large number of them speak. Or they train them how to press or not press the button, since they certainly vote according to the party order. They read the laws for which they have to vote while they transport mattresses in official cars, write lines for them, or act as understudies in the not-so-rare confrontations in the parliament hall," says the interviewee.
Members of the assemblies of several Western countries have advisers or assistants who help them in their work.
The Montenegrin Parliament has its own service, which, among other things, prepares proposals for acts and other materials at the request of the president, vice-president, committees and deputies, and gives expert opinions at the request of deputies, committees and clubs that they need in the performance of their functions.
Member of Parliament of the Socialist People's Party (SNP) Sladjana Kaluđerović, yesterday at the session she welcomed the idea that parliamentarians have advisers.
"Dear President, I really appreciate your initiative. It is certainly something that will come in handy for all MPs...", she said.
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