Klikovac: The Capital City Budget is a manipulation and a show for the public – a fairy tale that will not be realized

The budget of the Capital City for the current year is a manipulation and a show for the public – a fairy tale that will not be realized in the planned amount of 153 million euros.

This was stated during a press conference by Andrija Klikovac, head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) councilors' club in the Capital City Assembly.

He recalled that the budget for Podgorica amounts to 153 million euros, "of which 86 million euros are allocated for development and capital projects."

"You always have the opportunity to hear that this is a historic budget. It is a manipulation and a show for the public. This budget is a fairy tale and will not be implemented in that amount," said Klikovac.

According to him, "almost 47 million euros have been transferred to the new budget."

"Of that, the city's operating costs have increased by 8,5 percent. Other personal incomes have increased by more than 300.000 euros. You see, the budget's explanation itself states that numerous administrations will increase the number of employees - from the Inspection Affairs Administration, the Capital City Property Administration, the Capital City Revenue Administration... They predicted the same thing last year. They also plan to hire party-based people, just like they did that year. This budget is a serious manipulation...", assessed Klikovac.

He said he would talk more about the budget at tomorrow's session.

Ćulafić: Mujović's mood is encouraging as he wants to support free transportation for pensioners

DPS councilor Stefan Ćulafić said that he would continue to create conditions for Podgorica to be like modern European cities.

"On our initiative, a decision was adopted on free transportation for students in 2023... The previous city administration from 2018 to 2022 purchased approximately 40 new buses that form the basis of public transportation in Podgorica," said Ćulafić.

He said that he was "pleased with Mayor Saša Mujović's willingness to support free transportation for pensioners."

"I would like to remind you that the Movement for Podgorica and its councilors promoted similar decisions during their campaign... I see no reason why this would not be accepted," said Ćulafić.

Aranitović: The amendment seeks 300.000 euros for the basketball club and handball club "Budućnost"

DPS councilor Ksenija Aranitović said that the amendment to increase the allowance for parents of newborns is very important and "it is essential to increase the budget allocation for this."

She said that the amendment to support assisted reproduction did not meet with acceptance from the previous city council alliance.

"This amendment will not have many repercussions on the overall budget. This amount - 100.000 will not pose a problem. We are doing a very important thing if we take into account the demographic picture of Montenegro," Aranitović assessed.

She said that she would request 300.000 euros for the basketball club and handball club "Budućnost" through the amendment.

Arsović: We believe that the decision to increase the price of water will be declared unconstitutional

Vladan Arsović, also a DPS councilor, said that we are all witnesses to a 40 percent increase in water bills.

"It is clear to everyone that this was done without the consent of the Podgorica Assembly. From March 1st until the end of the year, we will subsidize water bills for a certain part of the population. We believe that the decision to increase the price of water will be declared unconstitutional. The subsidies will amount to about 40 percent...", he said.

According to him, the previous city administration was not specific about the implementation of infrastructure in Podgorica.

Klikovac: The renovation of "Podgoričanka" will not be implemented this year

Responding to a question from a journalist from the daily newspaper "Vijesti" whether DPS councilors believe that the budget can support the reconstruction of "Podgoričanka" in the amount of seven million euros, Klikovac said that the project will not be implemented this year.

"I think that the conceptual design of this project was rushed... That it is a space that does not know what it will offer the citizens of Podgorica. You will get a large space in the city center, and you will not have the parking issue resolved... Access to the space itself is also questionable. It is necessary to create a new solution for the space itself. The capital is hiding the fact that it is a building with problematic statics and it is questionable how it can be renovated...", said Klikovac.

He said that "it's complete confusion."

"You have an administration led by Olivera Injac, who was replaced by another representative of the Europe Now Movement (PES) who has a completely different version of the capital... We in DPS know what the citizens of Podgorica need, and that is why we proposed these amendments...", said Klikovac.