PM Marković replies to Nebojša Medojević: There is no crisis in Montenegro; serious politics has never been your strong point

Prime Minister Duško Marković dismissed today the claims of Democratic Front MP Nebojša Medojević that Montenegro is in a political, economic and security crisis, adding that such question, asked without explanation, is a political pamphlet, that MP Medojević "does not distinguish in which country he lives" and that the results of all previous elections confirmed that serious policy and political strategy were never Medojević's strong point.

Prime Minister Marković said that there is no political crisis because the parliament works untroubledly as the highest representative body, that there is no economic crisis, because Montenegro has achieved strong economic growth of around 4% this year, which is among the highest in Europe, and that economic growth is accompanied by growth number of employees for over 5 thousand.

Gross domestic product per capita has risen to around EUR 6,700 and growth of both average salaries and pensions has been achieved. The progress of the Montenegrin economy has been confirmed by reports from international organisations and institutions, such as the European Commission, the IMF, the World Bank, and others. Also, the measures of the Government fiscal consolidation measures have been assessed as well balanced, since we have carefully taken care not to reduce pensions, nor to increase the tax burden on the work and income of citizens. This, consequently, resulted in a rise in earnings. At the same time we have provided a more equitable distribution of social funds, the Prime Minister said.
He added that there is strong investment and credit activity in Montenegro, that the share of non-performing loans in the credit portfolio of the banks has been reduced, and that the total deposits have increased, that the credit rating and the improved competitiveness of the country have improved, as well as that the unemployment rate has been reduced to 15.1%.

Precisely, unemployment data from the Employment Agency of Montenegro testify to the consequences of political exhibitionism in the form of voting amendments to the Law on Social and Child Care in 2015, the Law on Pension and Disability Insurance, and the Law on employment and exercising of rights from insurance against unemployment. In fact, this political dilettante, in which you personally participated, has contributed to the increase in administrative and – I emphasise – fictitious unemployment in the country, and creating additional pressure on the state budget of about 2% of the annual GDP. Was the goal to burden the state budget as much as possible, and to have as many unemployed people as possible, or something completely third, you know the best, and you will explain this to the citizens in order to continue to be a relevant political factor! The Government will continue to implement economic policy measures that will ensure further growth of the economy, job creation, regularity of salaries, pensions and social benefits. So, while the opposition you belong to is destructive, trying to make the investment and economic environment as unacceptable as possible, for the Government and myself, a further dynamic and sustainable growth of the economy is imperative, PM Marković said.

The Prime Minister concluded that the security situation in Montenegro is stable, to the general satisfaction of our citizens, tourists, investors and businessmen.

This is supported by data on economic balances, but also data on the record tourist season, which I have announced today in response to one of the parliamentary questions. Neither investors invest where it is unstable and insecure, nor tourists spend hundreds of millions of euros where it is not safe! So there is no talk about the security crisis in Montenegro! On the contrary, the determination of the state to stop any attempt to jeopardize stability and security is, be assured, in the focus of our attention. And anyone who may smile at such thing – will welcome a legitimate and powerful response from the state of Montenegro, PM Marković stressed.