Political parties in Montenegro, which are predominantly financed from the state budget and municipal coffers, spent hundreds of thousands of euros last year on donations, assistance and sponsorships: from allocating funds for cultural and artistic societies to scholarships and support for schools. However, although this is not prohibited by law, it raises the question of the justification and possible abuses of such practices.
Consolidated reports on the parties' operations last year, which were published on the website of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK), show that among the parliamentary parties, the following reported donations: New Serbian Democracy (NSD), Democratic People's Party (DNP), Socialist People's Party (SNP), Bosniak Party (BS), Albanian Alternative, Democratic Alliance of Albanians, as well as extra-parliamentary political entities - the list "Budva our city" Nikola Jovanović, Party of European Progress, Citizens' Group "Turnaround for Danilovgrad", National Albanian Union, Democratic Serbian Party, Party of Justice and Reconciliation (SPP)...
Reports show that all parties generate revenue predominantly from the state and local government budgets, and a smaller portion from membership fees, donations, or private sources.
ASK previously responded to questions from "Vijesti" about whether donations made by parties were legal, saying that the Law on Financing Political Entities and Election Campaigns does not explicitly prohibit political entities from giving donations or scholarships to third parties.
They pointed out, however, that during previous amendments to the law, ASK had repeatedly initiated the precise regulation of this issue, precisely in order to eliminate doubts in practice and prevent possible abuses.
"The Agency's position is that political entities exercise their right to budget funds solely to finance their work, and the costs of regular work and election campaign expenses of political entities are clearly prescribed in Articles 12 and 16 of the law," they stated.
Article 12 states that the costs of regular work of parties are all expenses that are necessary for their daily functioning. This includes, among other things, the salaries of employees and the engagement of associates and experts, taxes and contributions, office and administrative costs, rental of premises and overheads, organization of meetings and events, promotion of the party's work between elections, international activities, training for members and activists, financing of youth organizations, public opinion polls, bank commissions and similar costs.
Article 16 defines the costs of the election campaign, i.e. the expenditures arising from the implementation of the election campaign in the territory where the elections are called, and which relate to: election rallies, advertising spots and promotional material, media representation, advertisements and publications, public opinion surveys...
Mrdović: They want to have a better reputation
Executive Director of Action for Social Justice Ines Mrdovic, she told "Vijesti" that in Montenegro, parties function like any other company, but that, unlike many other businesses, this one is only "in the black".
So, as he says, parties can give money for regular salaries, occasional work engagements, their work expenses, and even for donations or humanitarian aid.
"They are only obliged to operate according to the laws that apply to every legal entity, and by giving money for donations or various types of assistance, they are probably trying to strengthen their support among their supporters (or even more widely) and have the 'best reputation' possible (of course, assuming that these are real donations and assistance)," Mrdović assessed.
According to her, it is a completely different question why huge amounts of public money are allocated to parties, because they should be predominantly financed by their membership, and not be a "burden" of all taxpayers.
"Even if there is a real need for financing from public money, it should be at a negligible level, not at the current scale. This is how we have come to the point where large allocations only further cement the party-cratic character of our state," Mrdović pointed out.
The Đeljošajs donated 46,8 thousand euros
The highest amount of donations last year was reported by the Albanian Alternative Nika ĐeljošajShe allocated 32.335 euros for the cultural and artistic societies “Ana Malit” and “Maja e karanfilit”, the Football Club “Malesija”, as well as the non-governmental organizations “Ora” and “Galeb”. Also, for the needs of the scholarship Mireli Gilic 4.959 euros were allocated. Donations were also made from the funds of a women's organization - 9.600 euros were spent to support the work of a women's football club, a cultural and artistic society, and individual assistance.
This party also made donations in 2024 - to the KUD “Ana Malit”, FK “Malesija”, as well as to Rudin Gilaj A total of 37.825 euros was allocated, while for the scholarship Mirele Frljukčić given 5.118 euros.
The Albanian Alternative had no income from private sources - from membership fees or contributions - in 2024 and 2025. In 2025, they received 430.339 euros from the state budget and 35.458 euros from local governments.
Their coalition partner, the Democratic Alliance of Albanians, also donated part of its funds, namely - 21.430 euros. This money was paid to the non-governmental organizations "Centar Sport" and "Alšet", as well as to the elementary schools "29. novembar" and "Daciće". This party also donated 15.570 euros in 2024, but did not specify to whom. In the previous two years, this party had no income from contributions or membership fees. Last year, they received 119.142 euros from the state budget, and 16.619 euros from the local level.
National Albanian Union Ferhata Dinoše It allocated 3.600 euros for donations last year, and 6.600 euros the year before last, but the reports do not specify to whom. This party had no income other than funds from the budget. In 2025, they received 7.275 euros from the budget of the Municipality of Tuzi.
In the SNP report, under the item "solidarity assistance" for 2025, the amount is 23.846 euros, and for 2024 - 7.945 euros.
In 2025, the party received 489.877 euros from the state treasury, and 237.288 euros from municipal funds. They earned 2.411 euros from membership fees and 1.372 euros from contributions. They reported 7.919 euros under the item "other income".
In the New Serbian Democracy Last year, 7.250 euros were allocated for "donations", and in 2024 - 15.600 euros, 48.784 euros for assistance and sponsorships, and 29.176 euros the year before. In 2025, they received 1.385.500 euros from the state budget, and 487.546 euros from the municipal budget.
In 2025, they received a payment of 100 euros, and in 2024, 549 euros for regular work, while other donations from individuals were for the needs of campaigns in local elections in Budva, Andrijevica and Kotor. In 2025, they received 32.000 euros from coalition partners DNP and SNP, as well as 109.226 euros in other income (assuming obligations, court enforcement, corrections after reconciliation).
In 2025, DNP spent 21.554 euros under the item "sponsorship, donation and assistance costs", and 11.658 euros the year before. DNP had no income from private sources in the previous two years. Last year, they received 414.702 euros from the state budget for regular work, and 165.758 euros from the municipal budget. Last year, they also received rental subsidies of 40.770 euros.
BS gave over 300 thousand euros for "help"
When it comes to BS, 24.050 euros were allocated from their budget for donations to non-governmental and humanitarian organizations, and 317.340 euros were entered as “aid” expenses, but it was not stated - to whom. Also, 600 euros were allocated from the budget of the Women's Forum, the strongest minority party, for donations to non-governmental and humanitarian organizations. In 2024, this party also donated part of its funds - 23.700 euros for “donations to humanitarian and non-governmental organizations”, but also 341.220 euros for “aid expenses”. In that year, the Women's Forum paid 69.700 euros into the account of one-time financial assistance.
In 2025, this party received 1.171.478 euros from the state budget, 176.586 euros from local government budgets, and 34.088 euros from membership fees. Other income amounted to 10.208 euros.
BS did not respond to "Vijesti"'s questions about who they donated to, what criteria they used to decide who to donate to, and whether they consider such a practice appropriate. Most of the parties that donated money last year and in 2024 did not respond to these questions.
The citizens' group "Turnaround for Danilovgrad" spent 1.689 euros on donations last year. They donated a mini-playground worth 339 euros to the "Irena Radović" kindergarten in Danilovgrad, while the costs of the installation campaign amounted to 73 euros. 100 euros were allocated for participation in the humanitarian tournament, and 176 euros for equipment for the junior teams of the Danilovgrad Basketball Club. Also, 1.000 euros were allocated as a donation to the "Milosav Koljenšić" Elementary School in Slap for the needs of transporting students on field trips.
In 2025, they received 6.256 euros from the municipal budget and 520 euros from donations.
Zarubica: We give back to those who fund us
Darko Zarubica from this group of citizens told "Vijesti" that they want to improve the city by donating.
"We give donations because we are a group of citizens who did not enter politics for personal interests or self-promotion, but with the clear intention of making our city a better place to live. If public funds were spent responsibly and where they were most needed, there would be no need for us to donate kindergartens, plant trees, organize transportation for children, and the like. That is precisely why we feel obligated to react where the system fails," he said.
As he added, they entered politics as accomplished people for whom politics is not a profession, but a tool to "improve the local community and enable the voice of citizens and the voice of nature to be heard in parliament."
"... On a monthly basis, over a million euros are allocated to political parties in Montenegro, while over 100.000 euros are allocated in Danilovgrad alone, a town of around 18 inhabitants. This practically means that citizens are funding political structures that often do not give enough back to the community - sometimes not even basic things like children's playgrounds. We donate because we believe that this is the citizens' money and that it should be returned to them," he said.
When asked whether it is okay for them to donate the money they receive from the budget, Zarubica replied that they view the issue from multiple angles, but also that they believe it is more important to ask it "to those who spend budget funds on lunches, travel, promotion and other activities from which citizens have no concrete benefit."
"We do exactly the opposite - we return the funds we receive to those who finance us, which are the citizens. The money we receive for regular functioning, as well as the councilor's salary of our representative in parliament, with additional small donations from our members, we direct to concrete and useful actions in the local community. For us, it is a matter of responsibility, not choice," he pointed out.
Zarubica told "Vijesti" that decisions on donations are made in direct communication with citizens. "Danilovgrad is a small town and we know very well what our community lacks. It is based on these needs that we determine priorities and act where we can make a real difference. Although we do not have large funds, we try to evenly cover different parts of the city and to help where help is most needed," he said.
The Democratic Serbian Party also donated funds. As they stated, "expenditures for humanitarian, religious and scientific purposes" amounted to 3.595 euros. They received 28.142 euros from municipal budgets in the previous year.
The SPP Women's Network allocated 1.781 euros to help its members and students. This political entity earned 19.098 euros from local governments in which it has supporters.
SPP told "Vijesti" that their donations are "mostly one-time aid."
"I think that every party aims to improve the living conditions of citizens, so we in the SPP, using our modest means, aim to help those who turn to us for help," the party leader told the newspaper. Almir Muratović.
The political entity Budva, our city of Nikola Jovanović, gave 5.000 euros for humanitarian aid (treatment), and last year they received 168.322 euros from the Budva budget.
The Party of European Progress also donated money - last year, 300 euros were paid to one person for the treatment of a family member, and in 2024, 100 euros to another person. This party received 58.920 euros from the local budget, 5.055 euros from membership fees and 11.105 from contributions from individuals.
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