MPs today concluded their debate on the Proposal for Amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance (PIO), which, according to the proponents, will have a positive impact on the standard of living of beneficiaries of proportional pensions.
State Secretary at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Family Care and Demography, Mersida Aljićević, said that the proposed amendments aim to increase social security for pensioners and ensure a dignified life for beneficiaries who rely on proportional pensions.
"The implementation of this measure will have a direct positive impact on the living standards of beneficiaries of proportional pensions," said Aljićević at the session of the First Extraordinary Session of this year, which was not attended by opposition MPs.
Parliament resumed work on Monday, after opposition MPs were punished with 15 days of suspension for recently preventing the legislative chamber from holding a session that was supposed to decide on this year's budget.
The amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance propose the introduction of payment of the difference to the minimum pension amount to beneficiaries of proportional pensions, if their total proportional pension amount is less than the amount of the minimum pension determined under Article 29 of the Law, in the amount of 450 euros.
"The law is fair, supportive and shows responsibility towards the oldest fellow citizens," added Aljićević.
Europe Now Movement (PES) MP Jelenka Andrić said that the adoption of this law is a measure of dignity and justice for the most vulnerable category of the population.
She explained that proportional pensioners are those who spent part of their working life in some of the neighboring countries, most often, and part in Montenegro.
"This measure will affect 2,5 thousand people in our country and will properly demonstrate the 44th Government's concern for those who have come to the brink of existence due to rising prices," Andrić said.
According to her, with the adoption of these amendments to the Pension and Disability Insurance Act, pensioners will finally receive the justice they have long deserved.
Bosniak Party MP Mirsad Nurković said that it was good that Montenegro recognized this category of population.
This is, as he said, a legal text that should balance the minimum income of pensioners, stating that he regrets that the changes were not adopted a month or two ago, so that pensioners would receive their first minimum proportional pensions in January.
"I appeal to you to finish this by February 10th, so that pensioners can receive their first proportional pensions in February," added Nurković.
Member of Parliament from the ZBCG - New Serbian Democracy Club, Velimir Đoković, said that this, in addition to being economic, is also a question of dignity.
He also said that during the former regime there was no will for a better standard of living for citizens, because, as he claims, such impoverished citizens could be easily manipulated.
(MINA business)
The opposition presented their proposed agreement to resolve the political crisis at a press conference in the Parliament.
MPs have completed the debate on amendments to the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, which should create a legal condition for increasing modest pensions.
The bill will be commented on at a later date.
None of the opposition MPs who were suspended for 15 days attempted to enter the plenary hall, but some of them were seen in the Parliament today.
Opposition MP Boris Mugoša was also seen in parliament, but is not currently in the plenary hall. It was said yesterday that he was one of the MPs who was not given the aforementioned measure.
Members of the parliamentary security are at all entrances, and today the plenary hall was still entered through a side entrance.
Democratic People's Party MP Jelena Kljajević welcomed the unblocking of parliament and said that it is necessary to adopt the budget as soon as possible.
"I express my regret that we have not been able to do this until now, and that is because the retrograde opposition has reduced its actions to blocking parliament," she said, assessing that the opposition is working to the detriment of citizens.
She added that she wants to express her satisfaction because the amendments allow for the adjustment of proportional pensions.
Deputy Speaker of the Parliament and Bosniak Party MP Mirsad Nurković commented on the re-opening of war crimes cases and said that things are starting from a "dead end".
The Special State Prosecutor's Office announced today that, upon the order of Chief Special Prosecutor Vladimir Novović, criminal cases have been reopened regarding war crimes in Morinje, Bukovica and Kaluđerski laz and the deportation of refugees from Herceg Novi.
DON'T MISS IT
The session of the Assembly, which was scheduled to resume at 13 p.m., began about 20 minutes late. It is a continuation of the first extraordinary session of the Assembly in 2025.
There are currently no opposition MPs in the plenary session, which has scheduled a press conference for 14 p.m.
Yesterday, at his collegium, the head of parliament, Andrija Mandić, imposed a measure of suspension on some opposition MPs for the next 15 days of the session, due to the recent failure to hold a session of the legislative chamber at which a decision was to be made on the state treasury for this year.
A large number of members of the parliamentary security (Police Directorate officers) are still present in the Parliament today, securing the entrances to the plenary hall.
Among the 16 items on the agenda of the session are the Proposal for the Budget Law of Montenegro for 2025 and the Proposal for a Decision on the Borrowing of Montenegro for 2025.
Bonus video:
