General Director of Radio Television of Montenegro (RTCG) Boris Raonic at a meeting with members of the Council of that media house, he insulted the deputy president Marijana Camović Veličković, calling her a match.
Camović Veličković confirmed this to "Vijesta", while Raonic did not answer questions related to the case that happened on Tuesday afternoon, during a consultative meeting with members of the Council, immediately before the electronic session where the annex to the general director's contract is discussed.
"The meeting was attended by all members of the Council, as well as Raonic, who did not participate in the discussion except at the end, when he said that he wanted to 'just tell this spodoba', referring to me... After which the member of the Council Predrag Marsenić he did not allow him to continue, with the explanation that he cannot address a member of the Council like that, for which I thank him. Raonic insisted on continuing with the explanation that 'this is not an official session of the Council, I can tell her what I think', but Marsenić was persistent. After that, the meeting ended," Camović Veličković announced.
Yesterday, "Vijesti" asked Raonic if it was true that he insulted Camović Veličković at the meeting with members of the RTCG Council. Instead of an answer, he sent an email to the journalists of "Vijesti", "Pobjede", as well as Camović Veličković, in which he invited them to get answers to all questions in a direct conversation.
"Since you asked the same questions, I suggest that you come tomorrow at the same time that suits you and that I will give you answers in a direct conversation to these and all other questions that interest you. The term can be any that suits you. If you want, you can also invite Mrs. Camović Veličković to the interview," said Raonic in the email.
Raonic, however, did not respond to the repeated inquiry of "Vijesti" and the request to be determined according to the question related to insulting the vice-president of the Council.
Camović Veličković: A ridiculous excuse for a salary reduction
During yesterday's electronic session, the majority of Council members agreed with the proposal to amend Raonic's Annex to the employment contract. Raonic asked the Council to amend his employment contract by reducing the salary supplement (variables). This means that in the future, he will be able to receive a variable part of his salary in the amount of a maximum of two, instead of the current three average salaries at the RTCG level.
The average salary in RTCG is 800 euros. Raonic's earnings in the future can amount to around 3.200 euros.
The Ministry of Finance recently announced that Raonic's salary is the highest in the country and amounts to 4.042,56 euros, while the chief special prosecutor has a lower salary. Vladimir Novović, rector of the University of Montenegro Vladimir Bozovic, many university professors and deans, medical specialists and subspecialists...
The variable part of the salary, according to the rules of the RTCG, follows the employees with "based on the achieved work results"...
Yesterday, Camović Veličković assessed that Raonic's proposal to amend the illegal employment contract in this way, which resulted from the illegal election to the position of general director, is also illegal.
"Even if we start from the fact that it is legal, it is unnecessary. This is not a proposal to change the basic salary, which is determined by the coefficient of job complexity, but a salary supplement", she believes.
Camović Veličković pointed out to her colleagues that the contract stipulates that the salary supplement can be up to three average net earnings in RTCG, and now it is proposed to be up to two.
"So, the monthly increase can be one cent, it can be 2.400 euros, or there can be no salary increase. Another thing is that from the day of his appointment in 2021, Raonic pays himself the maximum amount (salary plus three average salaries as a variable part) without a single decision of the Council, and those decisions would have to be made by the Council from month to month after evaluating his monthly work performance ", pointed out Camović Veličković.
She also warned that Raonic's request came after the media, but not RTCG, announced that he receives the highest salary in the country.
"Raonić's explanation that 'after the salary increase in the Public Service, mine became too high' is ridiculous, because the salary increase in RTCG occurred more than 6 months ago, and it turns out that he realized it and was ashamed only when he read it on the portals other media", she said.
She recalled the findings of the State Audit Institution (DRI), which warned on two occasions that the Rulebook on the variable part of salary in RTCG "does not specify who evaluates, proposes and approves salary increases based on the results achieved in the work of the general director...". but also that "the specified allowance is paid every month in the maximum amount, without evaluation of the performance or results achieved in the work".
The Council is not interested in the opinion of ASK
The Vice-President of the Council reminded her colleagues yesterday that Raonic's earnings are calculated illegally, which is the repeated opinion of the State Audit Institution (DRI).
"Which you could read in other media and on the DRI website, where it is said that the 'Regulations on the variable part of the salary 'do not specify who evaluates, proposes and approves salary increases based on the results achieved in the work of the general director...', as well as that ' the specified allowance is paid every month in the maximum amount, without evaluation of the performance or the results achieved in the work'. I pointed that out to you yesterday. In September 2022, the Council adopted an identical document that the SAI had already said was not valid and it continued according to the same, so the assessment is the same," stressed Camović Veličković in her address to her colleagues.
At the consultative meeting of the RTCG Council, according to the claims of Camović Veličković, it was clearly stated that in no way will they act in accordance with the opinion of the Agency for the Prevention of Corruption (ASK), which concluded that the procedure for re-appointing Raonic as general director in June of last year represents a threat public interest and may affect the integrity of the public service.
Camović Veličković explained that the Council proposed to enter into some form of discussion with the KAS in connection with that procedure, which has ended.
Budget inspection hinted at control
Yesterday, Raonic did not answer to "Vijesta" whether he expects the control of the budget inspection, given that the SAI determined that his salary is illegally calculated in terms of variables.
The Ministry of Finance told "Vijesta" that in this particular case, inspection supervision will be planned, depending on the estimated level of risk and in accordance with the available personnel capacities.
They reminded that the Minister of Finance adopted the Budget Inspection Supervision Plan for this year, at the suggestion of the Chief Budget Inspector.
"The Budget Inspection plans and organizes its activities in accordance with the Plan and orders received from the Minister, as well as initiatives, suggestions, petitions from the interested public, according to priorities and in accordance with the considered risks," the Ministry of Finance replied.
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