Food in the parliament restaurant has become significantly more expensive, and with the new price list came a new rule - MPs will allegedly have to pay the guild immediately.
MPs, as well as guests from the Government and journalists, were able to have a bite to eat last year at prices significantly lower than other restaurants in Podgorica, but now they will have to spend significantly more money, especially if they opt for the fish menu.
On the daily menu on Tuesday, when the "Vijesti" reporters were in the restaurant waiting for the parliamentary session to begin, the menu included vegetable soup, which cost three euros, braised beef - six, chicken in peanut sauce - 12,5, Viennese and Parisian steak - 9,5, risotto with vegetables - 7,5, squid - 18... A portion of salad ranged from 1,8 to three euros, which was also the amount that had to be set aside for cakes and fruit.
Last year, the same dishes cost from 1,4 euros for soup to eight euros for a portion of squid.
The Assembly restaurant was without food for the last two months of last year due to an appeal process for the food procurement tender.
The State Property Administration was looking for "catering goods", or "food, beverages, tobacco and related products", through seven lots (fresh meat, cured meat products, fish, vegetables...) with a total value of 272.727 euros excluding VAT.
After the appeal process, contracts with suppliers were signed on January 22nd.
New rules, "justice" served
MPs and employees of parliamentary caucuses had the right not to pay the bill immediately after consuming food and/or drinks in a restaurant. In these situations, as previously explained, the unpaid amount was invoiced and sent to the parliamentary caucuses, which settled the debt for the previous month at the beginning of the month. This practice was allegedly abolished with the introduction of the new price list.
The MPs with whom "Vijesti" spoke claim that they do not use restaurant services often, but that when they do, they pay the bill immediately.
Vice President of the Assembly Nikola Camaj emphasizes that prices are now aligned with "the prices of other restaurants with similar offerings."
"As you know, the restaurant in the Parliament of Montenegro has recently started operating at full capacity again after a break of several months. Personally, I prefer to eat at home with my family, but when that is not possible due to work, there is the friendly staff and quality service of the Parliament restaurant. I remember that in the past there were many articles about the too low prices in the Parliament restaurant, so I hope that 'justice' has now been served," said Camaj.
President of the Democratic Party Caucus Boris Bogdanovic He claims that in the nine years he has been an MP, he has used the restaurant no more than five times, and that he will go there rarely in the future. He emphasizes that each Democratic MP pays for the services independently.
His party colleague Nikola Rovčanin He said that he had used the restaurant's services several times, that he had "not entered" in the last six months, but that he had paid each time with his own money, not on the club's account.
Expensive for employees?
Member of the SD Nikola Zirojevic He told "Vijesti" that he had used the services of the parliamentary restaurant since the beginning of his parliamentary term, but also while he was the secretary of the parliamentary caucus from 2019 to 2023.
"I'm not sure what the price increase is. The last information I had about the parliament restaurant was that there was no food because the tender was lost. As for the restaurant's services, I will most likely use them in the future when there is food again," he pointed out, adding that he has no complaints about the quality of the food and services.
According to him, the restaurant is very practical, because parliamentarians do not have to leave the building, and they can follow the session from the restaurant itself, making it much easier to react if they have to.
"As for the prices, my general impression is that they were roughly in line with the prices in the surrounding restaurants. It's not like it used to be, so the story that it's too cheap remains," he told the newspaper.
Zirojević pointed out that he was not sure how beneficial it was for Parliament employees to eat in a restaurant, given that their income is lower than that of MPs, and that he would not mind if the Parliament subsidized their meals, especially on days when they stay longer due to sessions.
When it comes to the method of payment, he explains that there are still two ways - for the MPs to pay themselves or for the costs to be partially or completely borne by the club, or political entity.
Representative of the Albanian Alliance Ilir Chapuni He told the newspaper that he rarely used the parliamentary restaurant, and that he would continue to use it in the future as needed.
He considers the prices to be acceptable, but not affordable for everyone.
"MPs could certainly eat there every day, but I don't think workers can afford it," says Čapuni, adding that he cannot compare prices because he has not used the restaurant's services this year.
He also claims that he regularly paid in cash, because he does not belong to any parliamentary group.
The Bosniak Party (BS) parliamentary group said that they occasionally use the services of the parliamentary restaurant, and that prices have increased compared to the previous year, but that they are lower and more acceptable compared to other catering facilities.
They add that they mostly pay privately, but sometimes food and drinks are financed by the club.
Bonus video:
