The government lacks both sensitivity and solutions to address the basic living problems of citizens. Their attempts at price control measures have failed, while housing policy appears to be a classic deception that people have witnessed many times, said Mileta Radovanić, Secretary General of the Civic Movement URA.
According to him, official data showing a steady increase in inflation since the beginning of 2025 are alarming. Inflation is now 4.7 percent higher than last year and twice the level compared to EU countries.
“Increase in minimum wages and pensions is meaningless when purchasing power remains the same or worse, and when citizens today cannot buy more than five or six essential items with 50 euros in a supermarket,” Radovanić stated.
He pointed out that the average salary alone does not reflect the real financial strength of citizens. “When you add the cost of living and the consumer basket, even an average salary of 1,000 euros is meaningless. Rising prices show how much money you actually have in your wallet,” he explained.
Radovanić stressed that when rising food prices are combined with rental costs, it becomes clear how difficult the challenges are for many Montenegrin citizens. “Purchasing power, consumer basket, price increases, inflation, and housing policy are the issues that define everyday life,” he said.
He emphasized that attention must be focused on real living conditions and price control, since wage and pension increases without curbing living expenses do not improve actual purchasing power.
Radovanić recalled that measures from URA’s “Montenegro 365” program, the “Stop Inflation” action, and the “Housing for All” initiative provide a concrete and sustainable response to inflation and rising prices.
“While the authorities lack a plan to protect citizens’ living standards, we offer clear solutions that ensure stability and security. Through the Housing for All program, we highlight a burning issue: Montenegro has virtually no housing policy, leaving people at the mercy of the market. Our goal is for the state to take an active role in providing affordable housing, which is not a luxury but a basic right and condition for a dignified life. As long as rising prices consume every increase in wages and pensions, citizens will not feel an improved standard of living. That is why the fight against inflation must be a key state policy,” Radovanić concluded.
