The PES parliamentary group stresses the urgent need to adopt the budget, stating, “citizens cannot afford to wait any longer.”

“The delay in passing the Budget Law means that those receiving proportional pensions will miss out on a raise, military personnel will not see salary increases, and there will be no added benefits for newborns. With outstanding debts due for collection this year exceeding 820 million euros—of which the largest amount must be settled in the first quarter—the delay in the budget threatens the fulfillment of our financial obligations and puts the stability of public finances at risk,” according to the PES announcement.

They further warned that compromising the stability of public finances “endangers Montenegro’s credit rating, which sends a discouraging signal to potential investors.”

“Because of the reckless decisions made by certain members of the Parliament of Montenegro, it is the citizens who bear the greatest burden. We urge all socio-political actors to honor the institutions of Montenegro rather than misinterpret the Constitution. This is the only way to uphold and respect the constitutional order of our nation. We encourage those who believe their rights have been compromised or that the highest legal standards are being disregarded to take their concerns to the appropriate authorities to investigate whether the parliamentary committee’s actions violated the Constitution,” the PES statement read.

The PES also expressed its support for consulting the Venice Commission regarding this matter.

“We must seize the opportunity this Parliament has to complete all negotiation chapters with the EU within the next two years. Therefore, we call on all politically-oriented parties to contribute positively towards our goal of becoming a full member of the European Union as swiftly as possible,” the announcement concluded.

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