The proposal to reduce recently increased budget allocations for parties now looks more like a political maneuver than a serious attempt to correct injustice towards citizens and the budget, assessed the program director of the Center for Democratic Transition (CDT). Milica Kovačević.
Commenting on the proposal for amendments to the law on party financing, which was submitted to the parliamentary procedure yesterday by the ruling Europe Now Movement (PES), she recalled that MPs recently, without a single vote against or abstention, adopted amendments to the same regulation, which increased allocations to parties.
"It is hard to believe in the sudden change in principles of those who, until yesterday, voted without hesitation to secure greater funds for themselves," Kovačević told "Vijesti".
PES proposed a 50 percent reduction in the amount of money from the budget earmarked for financing parties and independent parliamentary and councilor caucuses (from 0,8 to 0,4 percent of the current budget). From the Prime Minister's Party Milojko Spajić They announced that they proposed this with the aim of redistributing that money to increase child allowances, in accordance with the Law on Social and Child Protection.
Their proposal came a few days after the Parliament did not include in the agenda the one of the opposition Civic Movement (GP) URA on increasing child allowance. GP URA proposed amendments to the Law on Social and Child Protection, which provided for a 100 percent increase in child allowances.
In addition to the GP URA, the ruling Socialist People's Party (SNP) also announced support for the PES proposal, while the Bosniak Party (BS), which is also part of the government, unofficially said that they "still have no position" on it. The GP URA, SNP and BS, like the PES, supported the increase in allocations to parties a few months ago.
When asked by "Vijesti" whether they would support the proposed changes that would reduce the budget funds for the work of political entities, the ruling Democratic Party of Montenegro, New Serbian Democracy, Democratic People's Party, and the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists and Social Democrats did not respond. All of these parties also voted in July to increase their funds.
To adopt amendments to the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns, a two-thirds majority in the Parliament (54 votes) is required, as it is part of the corpus of election laws.
"Having this in mind, in order for this proposal to be adopted, it is necessary that the proponents of increasing the child allowance from the GP URA parliamentary group first secure the necessary consent of all opposition colleagues for amending the law, so that the deputies of the parliamentary majority will be able to support the proposal to increase the child allowance," the PES statement states.
PES: Opposition insisted on increase for parties
PES stated that this is important because, as they claim, the parliamentary opposition "insisted on increasing allocations for financing political entities, so that they would agree to vote for other reforms of electoral legislation."
Spajić's party did not respond to "Vijesti"'s questions about why they supported an increase in allocations from the state budget for parties a few months ago, and are now proposing new amendments to the law that would reduce that allocation.
The amendments adopted in July increased the budget allocation for parliamentary parties to 0,8 percent, instead of the previous 0,5 percent of total budget funds, minus capital and state funds (current budget). This, using the current budget for this year (around 1,5 billion euros), means that parties are entitled to 12,08 million, or 4,5 million more than before.
Milica Kovačević recalls that the CDT criticized this "party trade" even when the law was in draft form, when the electoral reform was "agreed behind closed doors according to the principle - as much money for the parties, as much democracy for the citizens."
"At that time, we warned about the lack of transparency and lack of principles in this agreement, as well as the fact that decisions on party privileges are made without public debate and without any sense of proportion in relation to the real needs of citizens and institutions," she stated.
According to her, the CDT drew attention to the fact that the amounts involved exceed the budgets of certain institutions crucial to the rule of law.
"Unfortunately, at that time there was no one in the political parties who wanted to hear us. The law was adopted with the support of all MPs present - 69 of them - without a single vote against or abstention, and without any criticism of the justification for such an increase," Kovačević recalled.
As she added, today those same parties are trying to present themselves as fighters against the waste of public money, accusing each other of who proposed the increases, even though, she says, everyone agreed on them and voted for them in solidarity.
"All of this looks more like another episode in a series of political games that create the illusion of responsibility, while in essence the practice of managing public money in the party's, rather than the public, interest continues," the interviewee assessed.
At the same time, as she added, numerous things in that law that are much more important than party budgets - remained without any improvement.
The CDT proposed introducing a minimum level of party financing, limiting the costs of their election campaigns, and suppressing so-called official campaigns...
Kaluđerović: The obligation of responsible authorities to support children
"Vijesti" also asked PES whether they expect that MPs from other majority parties will support their proposal for amendments to the law, or whether the proposal for amendments to the parliamentary procedure was submitted in accordance with an agreement within the majority, bearing in mind that the government's coalition agreement stipulates that no proposal will enter the procedure if no agreement is reached within the majority.
SNP MP, Sladjana Kaluđerović She told the editorial staff that their position is clear - every euro that can be directed towards improving the standards of citizens should be directed that way.
"That is why we will support the PES proposal to redirect funds intended for financing political parties to increase child allowances," said Kaluđerović.
She recalled that the SNP voted in favor of the GP URA proposal to include an item on the agenda to increase child allowances and other social benefits, because they believe "that it is the obligation of every responsible authority to provide support to families and children."
The GP URA announced yesterday that they will support amendments to the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns and resubmit the initiative to increase child allowances to the parliamentary procedure.
They said that they expect the support of the PES for increasing the allowances, bearing in mind that the largest party in the Parliament, "after having refused to vote for increasing child allowances four times so far, this time expressed its readiness to raise its hand for all children in Montenegro, given that due to inflation, rising costs and prices of basic foodstuffs, the amount of 30 euros is insufficient to significantly affect the position of the youngest in the country."
In yesterday's statement, PES stated that with the possible consent of the opposition, as well as the adoption of amendments to the law, the secured difference will be redirected additionally to the revenue side of the budget, which the proponent of the increase can count on, in addition to the 55 million euros already allocated from the budget for over 120 thousand beneficiaries of child allowance.
"It is very important that all political entities, both those who once abolished child allowance and those who did not increase it during their time in power, now show their willingness to cede their budget funding and direct it to the proposals they promote and thus enable their implementation, instead of making a list of populist proposals without a budget in order to use them for party marketing without previously provided funds in the budget," the PES said.
DON'T MISS IT
The PES proposal states that the proposed solution should first be considered by the Assembly's Committee for Comprehensive Electoral Reform.
The European Commission requested additional amendments to the law.
Milica Kovačević reminds that the European Commission (EC) in its latest report for Montenegro indicated that the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns must be further amended - through a transparent and inclusive process - in order to eliminate existing shortcomings, increase control over the spending of party money, ensure full compliance with standards, and prevent the misuse of state resources for political purposes.
The EC report recalls that in July, the Parliament adopted amendments to the electoral legislative framework, partially taking into account existing OSCE/ODIHR recommendations, including monitoring campaign financing and the media, improving the integrity of the election administration, increasing the gender quota on electoral lists, and introducing a single voting day for local elections.
“However, further amendments are necessary to fully align the legal framework with the EU acquis and European standards on inclusive, transparent and resilient electoral processes. In particular, within the framework of the benchmarks for the closure of Chapter 23 (Judiciary and Fundamental Rights), the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns needs to be further revised through a transparent and inclusive consultation process involving all relevant stakeholders,” the EC report states.
See more:
Download the app and follow the news
FOLLOW US ON
