The leader of the Civic Movement URA, Dritan Abazović, said that the Government of Montenegro is perhaps the only one in the world that, at a time of global crisis caused by events in the Middle East, is thinking about reconstruction and a potential increase in the number of ministries, instead of how to curb the inflationary impact on citizens.
"Our government is considering how to make 35 ministries out of 33, or how to accommodate someone else. The Slovenian government is trying to resolve the crisis by even engaging the army to prevent incidents at gas stations. The German government is going to the Bundestag with legal solutions that specify how prices can move in the coming period, in order to avoid any attempt to abuse the situation to the detriment of citizens. And the Montenegrin government is considering whether someone will become a minister without portfolio or whether someone will come from the DF or some other party," Abazović said in his author's podcast "Friday with Dritan".
He stated, according to the press release from the URA GP, that some foodstuffs, such as flour, have already become more expensive, and that this will probably affect other products as well. He added that it is completely inappropriate that there is no extraordinary session of the Government dedicated to preparing measures to prevent price increases and rampant price hikes in the coming period.
He recalled that, after several initiatives and proposals submitted by the URA, they made a decision to reduce excise taxes on fuel by 50 percent.
"I think that we need a dialogue between the economy and the Government more than ever before. I urge them to use the model we had, which was the 'Stop Inflation' campaign, when we established a dialogue together with economic entities that resulted in at least a limited price for certain products that will not pose a significant impact on citizens," said Abazović.
He added that it is worrying that Montenegro's trade in goods is at one of its historical lows, that is, that the coverage of imports by exports is only 10 percent. He said that the country is constantly in that deficit, but that it is very bad that this government has only recorded an increase in imports and a decrease in exports in three years.
According to a statement from the URA GP, Abazović also referred to the campaign in support of increasing pensions for all pensioners.
"Over 120.000 people expect the Government to react similarly to the excise tax and to accept the URA proposal. There is money in the budget for that, provided through the Pension and Disability Insurance Fund, and I think it is an extremely acceptable measure to help all pensioners in Montenegro. For the government, increasing pensions is a populist measure, and it is not a populist measure to increase the number of ministries from 33 to 35 or 36. It is not a populist measure to buy official cars, nor to spend huge amounts on official trips. Believe that good comes back with good. Let's help the elderly population in Montenegro," he said.
He added that the head of the URA parliamentary group in the Parliament, Miloš Konatar, is in intensive communication with numerous pensioner associations, and that he also plans to propose amendments to the law regarding pension calculation.
"That is why I am calling on the Government again: abolish all unnecessary expenses, be frugal on things that mean nothing to Montenegro or to any of you personally, suppress corruption and rigging, and prevent the practice of being embedded in various businesses, as was the case during the DPS era," he said.
When asked about construction on Velje Brdo in Podgorica, Abazović said that he supports activities aimed at helping citizens, married couples and other categories to get a roof over their heads through lower prices.
"But the concept offered by the Government is completely wrong. URA offered a solution through the 'Housing for All' project, which implied the formation of a state fund from which the construction of apartments would begin, and which would be filled by citizens' investments through loans for apartments at lower prices. When it comes to Velje Brdo, it is not disputed that everything can be done theoretically. Someone may say that a 500-story building should be built on the top of Lovćen, but that makes no sense. There is no logic in wasting millions of euros on something that could have been solved much more simply: for the Government to enter into an agreement with existing contractors throughout Podgorica or other cities and to subsidize the price of apartments for vulnerable categories. For example, for 500 families to subsidize part of the price of an apartment and for people to immediately get a roof over their heads. They started working without papers, which is a disgrace for a government. These are not private investors," said Abazović.
He also said that URA will fight to make restitution fairer and faster in Montenegro.
"Tens of thousands of people were wronged in the previous communist system. We believe that our citizens should get their property back and be richer, because richer citizens mean a richer state."
Asked why the proposal to increase benefits for mothers is not in the parliamentary procedure, Abazović said that Parliament Speaker Andrija Mandić is keeping it in a drawer.
When asked when the lowest pensions and personal disability benefits will be increased, as announced by the URA GP, Abazović said that the party, with the support of opposition MPs, managed to impose an increase in pensions on the agenda and that he hopes that this time the government MPs will support the proposal that also includes an increase in the lowest pensions.
Asked whether the child allowance would be increased, he said that the URA would submit the proposal again and that it remains to be seen how the government would react, as they had rejected it so far.
Abazović is confident that as president of the parliamentary Inquiry Committee for the Investigation of the Možura Affair, he will contribute to discovering who and how contributed to citizens paying for the construction of the wind farm and someone's corruption, "primarily some former officials from the DPS period."
"We did not come here to shame anyone, but to seek justice. I believe that, when we complete the process, we will create a document that will be valid enough for the Government of Montenegro to do its part of the job, and for the Special State Prosecutor's Office to do its part. We cannot move towards the EU through corrupt activities. We cannot be a country where ministers enrich their relatives through projects that are for the good of all citizens of Montenegro," he said.
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