Vice President of the Montenegrin Parliament, Boris Pejović, assured the public that pension and disability insurance will not be abolished, and announced that the minimum wage will soon reach 700 EUR. He emphasized that pensioners need not worry about their benefits, reaffirming that this policy stance will remain unchanged. Pejović also confirmed that there are no plans to increase VAT.
In response to statements made by DPS parliamentarian Jefto Eraković, Pejović criticized past propaganda surrounding the implementation of the “Europe Now 1” program. He pointed out contradictions where there were claims that health insurance would be eliminated despite significant financial allocations made for it. Pejović firmly stated that pension and disability insurance will continue without any changes.
Pejović further argued that these policies will lead to more secure and significantly higher pensions for citizens. He highlighted the contrast between the minimum pension, which was 143 EUR under previous administrations, and the current amount of 450 EUR. Pejović also criticized the previous government’s management of public debt, noting an increase from just over 1 billion EUR in 2009 to nearly 4 billion EUR within a decade, alongside a modest 50 EUR rise in wages.
Addressing the unfulfilled promise made by the DPS in 2012 to create 40,000 new jobs, Pejović questioned the lack of progress on this front. He acknowledged the current government’s role in advancing the IBAR project, despite opposition parties’ refusal to support related appointments. Pejović concluded by criticizing the state of the rule of law under the previous administration, highlighting ongoing investigations and incarcerations as outcomes of their governance.
