Political parties in Montenegro are mostly silent about whether the money they receive from the budget for financing the work of women's organizations is spent on purpose, and almost 700.000 euros will be paid to them from the budget this year for that purpose alone.
According to the decision from January of this year, the Ministry of Finance gives EUR 57.791 per month, which amounts to EUR 693.492 annually, for financing the regular work of women's organizations in political subjects in the Parliament of Montenegro.
The Bosniak Party (BS), the Croatian Civic Initiative (HGI), the Socialist People's Party (SNP) and the Albanian Alliance each receive 6.421 euros per month, which divides the money by giving 1.990 euros each to the Democratic Party and the New Democratic Force of Forca, and the Democratic Alliance in Montenegro Gori 1.476 and the Movement for Sorrows - 963 euros.
The coalition that was gathered around the Democratic Party of Socialists (DPS) also receives 6.421 euros per month, of which the DPS receives the largest share, 5.198 euros, the Social Democrats (SD), 917 euros, and the Democratic Union of Albanians (DUA), 305 euros. Movement Europe now receives 6.421 euros out of the 5.886 euros expected for the coalition, and the coalition partners United Montenegro (UCG) and CIVIS receive 267 euros each.
The coalition formed by Democratic Montenegro and the Citizens' Movement URA is also given 6.421 per month, of which the Democrats receive 4.173 euros, and the GP URA 2.247 euros.
For the future of Montenegro, it also receives 6.421 euros, of which the New Serbian Democracy (NSD) has 4.445, and the Democratic People's Party (DNP) 1.975 euros.
The Albanian Forum, like other coalitions, receives 6.421 euros per month, of which the largest amount - 4.494 euros goes to the Albanian Alternative (AA), the Democratic Alliance of Albanians - 1.284 euros and the National Albanian Union (NAU) - 642 euros.
Whether they spend the money they receive for women's organizations is not answered by PES, NSD, DNP, SNP, DPS, SD and GP URA.
Co-president of the Women's Club in the last convocation of the Assembly, Branka Bosniak, she told "Vijesti" that she is sure that funds intended for women's organizations are generally not spent for what they are intended for.
"It is enough to look at who has the deposited signature for the management of those funds, and you will see that they are mostly men, not the presidents of women's forums within the parties. Therefore, they dispose of that money and make various legal maneuvers to spend it on something else, not for the work of women's organizations and strengthening the position of women within political parties and in politics in general. Of course, the majority of male colleagues do not like this strengthening, because it would mean that they would have to move so that a woman could take their place", said Bošnjak.
Democrats and the Bosniak Party: It is spent on purpose
Director and deputy of Democratic Montenegro, Momcilo Leković, told "Vijesti" that the amount of EUR 2023 belonged to their women's organization from the budget of Montenegro in 55.913,40, while EUR 39.568,03 belonged to the budget of local self-governments on this basis.
"All funds were used and are being used for their intended purpose, that is, in accordance with the Law on the Financing of Political Parties and Election Campaigns and the Statute of the Women's Forum of Democratic Montenegro," said Leković.
He explained that in 2023, the expenditure of funds related to the work of the women's organization, especially the development and improvement of the infrastructure of the Women's Forum at local levels, and all for the preparation and organization of the first Congress of the Women's Forum, which was held at the beginning of 2024.
"Part of the funds was also used for the payment of salaries with associated taxes and contributions for employees of the women's organization, advertising material for the needs of the Women's Forum organization, promotion of the Women's Forum organization on social networks, as well as participation in the costs of election campaigns in which women are active participated, were represented on the lists and made a significant contribution to our election result, as well as to the organization of the party congress that was held in December, all in accordance with Article 61 of the Statute of the Women's Forum", said Leković.
He said that, in accordance with the Statute of the Forum of Women and Article 19, the president of the Forum of Women, in addition to representing and managing the organization of the Forum of Women Democrats, keeps records of donations, gifts and membership fees and submits a half-yearly report to the accounting department of the Democrats. The Accounting Service of Democratic Montenegro also submits supporting documentation for the funds used for the work of the Women's Forum, immediately upon disposal of the said funds.
Leković said that Democratic Montenegro helps the Women's Forum with all matters related to logistics in order to support participants in educational seminars, as well as in design, organization and legal matters in the daily functioning and successful promotion of the Forum's activities.
"In order to, as a party based on democratic principles, additionally promote European values, equality, human rights and transparency, we introduced double control mechanisms. The Statutory Commission of the Democrats at the state level, due to the flawless application of the gender-sensitive Statute, has 60 percent of women in its composition, so that it is women who can control the application of all the positive norms of our umbrella document. I would like to point out that the opinion of the Statutory Commission is independent and binding", said Leković.
He said that the Statute of the Women's Forum also has two protection mechanisms, the first of which concerns women belonging to less numerous peoples, and the second women from the ranks of young people:
"The first mechanism stipulates that in the leadership of the Women's Forum, at least one woman must be elected from among less numerous peoples, and the second mechanism obliges all presidents of local OO Women's Forums that at least one woman from the leadership (vice president) must be elected from among the youth. The principles, competences and powers of the Women's Forum, as well as the competences of the president, are almost identical to the way of organization and competences of the Democrats, which provides the Forum complete independence and autonomy in its work".
The Bosnian Party replied to "Vijesta" that the money for the work of the Women's Forum, which the party receives from the budget, is spent on purpose.
"The Women's Forum of the Bosniak Party, according to the Statute, disposes of the funds that belong to it, in accordance with the adopted budget of the Bosniak Party. In this sense, the Women's Forum uses funds mainly for activities related to education, training, women's activism and others", the party announced.
Bosniak: I think there is work for DRI as well
Bošnjak assessed that the purpose of these funds must be more closely prescribed through the amendment of the regulations, as well as strict sanctions in case of inappropriate spending.
According to the Law on Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns, 0,05 percent of budget funds are planned for financing the regular work of women's organizations in parliamentary parties. The law stipulates that, in addition to the state budget, money for financing women's organizations in political subjects is also allocated at the level of local self-governments, in such a way that 0,11 percent of funds from the current budget is allocated for this purpose, with certain specifics for municipalities with smaller budgets. of five million euros.
Money for women's organizations has been paid since 2020, after the initiative of the Women's Political Network (ŽPM) was adopted.
"I'm not sure if paying a fee to a female person for working in the party with any report is a dedicated use of these savings... I think there is work for the DRI here as well. We certainly must not allow male colleagues to dispose of and determine what the funds intended for women's organizations are used for," said Bošnjak.
It is enough to look at who has deposited the signature for the management of these funds, and you will see that they are mostly men, and not the presidents of women's forums within the parties. Therefore, they dispose of that money and do various legal tricks to spend it on something else, says Branka Bošnjak
She said that it was also devastating that the additional funds received for the number of female mandates won within the coalitions were distributed to parties in the coalition that did not have a single female representative, which she also considered an abuse.
In the recommendations made in the final report of the ODIHR after the extraordinary parliamentary elections on June 11 last year, the issue of financing women's organizations is also mentioned.
"In order to increase the participation of women in political life, the party's spending of public funds intended for their women's organizations should be strengthened and implemented, and in case of non-compliance with the regulations, sanctions should be applied", ODIHR recommended.
On March 24 of this year, the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption reminded political entities that, based on Article 48 of the Law on the Financing of Political Entities and Election Campaigns, they are obliged to submit the final account and annual consolidated accounts to the State Audit Institution, the Tax Administration and the Agency by March 31. financial report for the previous year.
An integral part of the report is information on the manner and purpose of spending funds for the regular financing of the work of women's organizations in political subjects.
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