Lola won't say whether she donated her salary

Member of Parliament from the opposition Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) Drita Lola, who has not participated in the work of parliament for almost a year, did not want to say whether, and if so, to whom, she donated her salary for last month, but rather "advised" the editorial staff of "Vijesti" to write about the "essential problems" of citizens.

On October 11, Lola announced that she would donate the salary she receives from the budget of the Parliament, or rather the state of Montenegro, to charity in the future. She wrote this on social media after "Vijesti" announced that since December last year she has not participated in the work of the parliament and its working bodies, but that she regularly receives her parliamentary salary, and that in ten months she has received more than 17 thousand euros on that basis (about 1,7 thousand euros per month).

When asked by "Vijesti" to whom she donated her salary for October, Lola replied that "Vijesti" should report on the current needs of citizens in various parts of Montenegro.

"To know where my salary ended up, I suggest that you, as the most widely read newspaper in Montenegro, which has the capabilities, visit and report on the current needs of citizens in various parts of Montenegro. Then you would understand not only where my donation ended up, but perhaps also create an idea of ​​the essential problems that citizens face today and where attention and power in Montenegro should be focused, including the media," she said.

Lola said that her ten years of engagement, "primarily as an activist and then as a politician," were dedicated "to precisely that goal."

"Otherwise, if the goal is media sensationalism, I'm not the right address," she said.

According to information from "Vijesti", Lola has been living in the USA since the end of last year.

Last month, when asked by "Vijesti" whether she would resign from her parliamentary position and whether she believed it was right for citizens not to participate in the work of the Parliament while receiving a salary, she replied that she had been thinking about a possible resignation recently, and that she would make a decision "in a relatively short period of time."

"People have unforeseen family and personal challenges, and that's why I haven't been to Montenegro personally. In my case, the outcome of my family issue was unforeseen, and in that sense, if my situation prevents me from being in parliament, as I previously stated, I will make a decision in a relatively short period of time," Lola said.

Parliament told "Vijesti" that Lola's last speech at the session of the highest legislative chamber was on December 16, 2024, and that she voted for the last time the day after.

According to Article 55 of the Rules of Procedure of the Parliament, a member of parliament is obliged to participate in the work of the parliament and the committees of which he is a member and to make decisions.

Lola was elected as an MP at the end of July 2023. She is also the co-president of the collegium of the Women's Club of the Assembly and a member of three parliamentary committees: for human rights and freedoms, for gender equality, and for tourism, agriculture, ecology and spatial planning.

She is also a member of the Stabilization and Association Parliamentary Committee (SAC).

She was elected president of the DPS Women's Alliance in November 2021. DPS announced at the time that Lola graduated in pharmacy and has many years of experience working in the civil and private sectors.

"She is recognized for her activism in culture, including as the director of the 'Seanema Film Festival', while she is active in the private sector as a film producer. She earned her master's degree from the University of Edinburgh," they stated on that occasion.