We believe that the Capital City Assembly will unanimously support the decision to make public transportation free for oncology patients in Podgorica, and I regret that 5.000 euros could not be allocated last year to equip the premises for these people.
This was stated by the head of the European Union councilors' club, Miloš Mašković, during the session of the Capital City Assembly, which has already lasted 12 hours.
The leader of the Europe Now Movement (PES) club, Anđela Mićović, will also vote for this decision, saying that some of the government's councilors fully support it.
"We owe this to people who are going through difficult situations in their lives. Transportation costs must not be an obstacle to check-ups and therapies. One third of residents are users of free transportation - students, citizens over 67, pensioners, people with disabilities. Solidarity must not be a privilege but a standard of the Capital City," she said.
Today's session was marked by tensions, especially over the erection of a memorial to the former Metropolitan of Montenegro and the Littoral, Amfilohije, and Halit Đečević, a resident of Podgorica. It was also marked by hours of discussions that often strayed into topics not covered by the agenda items.
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The course of the session
Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović said that he cannot promise that Vojislavljevića Boulevard will be completed by the end of next year.
"There is work going on, but don't say anything until you are familiar with the issues. The work has stalled a bit due to the water supply network that needs to be relocated. We all know that the work on Vojislavljevića Boulevard and what is being done in the city center is creating additional congestion," he said.
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Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) councilor Stefan Ćulafić said that the club has a positive attitude towards this initiative. He recalled that DPS councilors started the story about free transportation for students back in 2021.
"This is a good opportunity to remind ourselves of what has been done in terms of traffic. Little has been done, but more could have been done. The traffic situation has never been worse. The congestion has never been greater. In three years, more could have been done to develop public transport...", he believes.
Mašković: Almost all primary schools in the territory of Podgorica are overbooked
Almost all primary schools in the territory of Podgorica are overbooked, and the question arises as to how and with what intensity the Government of Montenegro will do everything in its power to build new ones.
This was stated by the head of the European Union councilors' club, Miloš Mašković, during a speech at the Capital City Assembly.
Mašković said that it is good for the Capital to provide more educational institutions.
The quorum for this parliamentary session was ensured, and there were no absent councilors from the ruling majority benches in Podgorica.
The President of the Capital City Assembly, Jelena Borovinić Bojović, said that Aleksandar Ružić had resigned as a councilor for the Europe Now Movement (PES). Petar Rašković was elected in his place.
Acting Director of the Property Directorate, Milica Kadović, said that the construction of two elementary schools is planned. According to her, their construction is planned on land located in the Zabjelo settlement behind the Multikom facility, as well as on Tuški put.
Democratic Montenegro councilor Ljiljana Maraš said that the population growth has led to overcrowding at the "Oktoih" Elementary School in Zabjelo.
"Accordingly, the Capital City has returned the right to dispose of that land to the state. What made the people of Zabjelo happy was that the mayor informed that funds had been provided for the implementation of this project. Caring for children and young people and their education is one of the priorities of the city administration," said Maraš.
She said that we need to learn from good examples, and one of them, she points out, is "a new elementary school according to European standards."
"A responsible and quality education system is aimed at strengthening schools and developing the values on which future life is based," said the Democratic councilor.
Krnić: It's good that new schools are being built
Preokret councilor Mirza Krnić said that it was good that new schools were being built, adding that overbuilding should not occur.
Ilija Mugoša, a councilor of the Party of European Progress (SEP), said that there is no concrete data on how many educational institutions Podgorica lacks.
"We are all witnesses that the population has increased since 2023. There is a need to build educational capacities in Zabjelo, Stari Aerodrom, Konik, Tološi... The capacities of the teaching staff must follow this process. Recent PISA tests show that our students are lagging behind in relation to the international process. We must be aware that this is also the responsibility of teachers. We must conclude that the urban development of the city is not in line with the development of educational infrastructure," he said.
Mugoša said that children with special educational needs must be included in the education structure.
Councilor of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS), Adi Jakupović, said that the "Savo Pejanović" Elementary School, as one of the oldest educational institutions in the city, has been neglected and does not have a gym.
His councilor colleague Mirjana Radulović said that she regretted that the capacities of the "Oktoih" elementary school had not been expanded.
"Although there is space, although the initiative was submitted by the mayor... What about the land in the City Quarter, where nothing has been done for three years when it comes to building a school," said Radulović.
Podgorica Mayor Saša Mujović asked Radulović not to talk about the position of "educational workers then and now," adding that it is not the fault of the current government that a new settlement was built in the City Quarter.
Vučinić: Podgorica will unfortunately see schools empty
Anđela Mićović, head of the PES club, said she was taken aback by Radulović's level of cynicism, adding that if she doesn't like her current salary, she should go back to the 500 euros, but "not 'donate' it like former MP Drita Lola."
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Councilor of the Movement for Podgorica, Dragutin Vučinić, is of the opinion that Podgorica will see "schools unfortunately empty".
"The way things are going, we will no longer have a sufficient number of children, regardless of the fact that all of Montenegro will move here (to Podgorica). It is sad that we did not use the period from 1996 to 1997 to build more schools," Vučinić assessed.
The head of the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) councilors' club, Andrija Klikovac, asked why more elementary and secondary schools were not included in the Spatial and Urban Plan (PUP). He said that it does not matter who built how many schools, because children will study there.
"It is necessary to find a modality for cities that have more money to invest it in the construction of educational and sports facilities," said Klikovac.
Deputy Mayor Nađa Ljiljanić said that subsidies for extended stays will amount to "some two million euros."
She also said that every "illegal" canopy in Podgorica should be demolished.
Klikovac said he expects "Komunalno to do the same for all canopies in front of some businesses."
Mujović: Investing in top-level sports takes up significant resources
Mujović said that investing in top-level sports is costly and takes up significant resources.
"Nothing is as good a promotion for a city as the promotion of a successful team. For me, it will be a much greater motivation to engage in amateur sports if we see a successful sports team achieving some great results. Big sports clubs organize big competitions, so that's a good promotion for the city and the economy. All of these are items that feed off each other," he said.
New Serbian Democracy (NSD) councilor Mitar Šušić previously stated that this decision would limit funds for the development of planning, cycling, amateur sports...
Klikovac (DPS) said that the opposition will not support the decision, adding that the Capital City must find new models for financing clubs.
"You have clubs where the least is given from the budget of the Capital City. State-owned enterprises and the economy participate. I think the Capital City should allocate more funds for the development of professional sports," said Klikovac.
Mugoša (SEP) said that sport is important and should not be seen as an expense. He added that sport would also be important for children. He urged the Capital City to provide a location for the construction of an athletics stadium, pointing out the poor condition of the hall of the Sports Center (SC) "Morača".
Preokret councilor Srđan Perić, at the very beginning of the session, procedurally proposed that the discussion on erecting a memorial plaque to the victims of Golo Otok and the victims of the Informbiro from the Živković brotherhood in Ubli, in the Kuči settlement, be postponed to the next session.
He explained this by saying that some of the locals in Ubli were "divided over the whole idea."
Borovinić Bojović said that this agenda item will not be discussed today, because Mayor Mujović requested its postponement.
The head of the Democratic councilors' club, Mitar Paunović, said that he did not agree with that suggestion and suggested that the councilors think again.
Several items on the agenda will also not be discussed during today's parliamentary session.
Thus, the councilors will not vote on the erection of a memorial plaque to the Živković family in Ubli, amendments to the Decision on the establishment of "Parking Servis", or on the price list of that company. There will be no discussions or decisions on more elections and appointments, naming streets in the city after famous poets and thinkers, or amending the statute of the Podgorica Agency for the Management of Protected Areas.
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