The most prominent councilor in the Pljevlja parliament last year was Saša Ječmenica, who averaged nearly 26 speeches per session.

Initially a DPS councilor until mid-summer of last year, Ječmenica transitioned to the European Progress Party, founded by former Prime Minister Dusko Markovic, and now serves as an independent councilor in the local parliament.

During the previous year, the most active councilor addressed the assembly a total of 154 times, primarily to respond. The assembly’s records indicated 91 responses from Ječmenica, along with 36 discussions on agenda items and 12 procedural reactions. He posed 11 questions to fellow councilors and commented on the answers received four times.

So far in 2024, six sessions of the Pljevlja Municipal Assembly have taken place, wherein councilors accumulated nearly 63 hours in the assembly hall, also engaging in municipal committees. The assembly has enacted 76 decisions and conclusions this year.

Despite having nearly three times fewer members than the ruling majority, the opposition was considerably more active in sessions last year, with no councilor among them opting not to participate. The ruling majority managed 81 discussions, while the opposition had 112. Regarding responses, the ratio favored the opposition at 212 to 123.

Remarkably, nearly a third of the councilors did not engage in any discussions on agenda topics nor did they pose any questions related to local government. Out of 34 councilors in the Pljevlja Assembly, 10 remained “silent,” accruing a total of 3,510 euros each last year.

The least active members were from the parliamentary majority, particularly the councilors from Nova. Those from the ruling majority who did not speak include: Marko Gacevic (New), Miroslav Gazdic (New), Tatjana Cavic (DNP), Borisa Kankaras (New), Dragisa Kljajevic (DNP), Draško Pivljanin (New), Ana Doskovic Cmiljanic (Movement for Pljevlja), Tamara Rosic (PES), Ratko Pejović (SNP), and Radivoje Vojnovic (HURRY).

Additionally, URA, which has one councilor in the local parliament, has recently withdrawn from the ruling majority in Pljevlja.

Another active councilor last year was Haris Alavac from DPS, who spoke 126 times, averaging 21 times per session. His participation included 29 discussions and 78 responses. Alavac also asked six council questions, commented on four responses, and made procedural interventions nine times.

The most prolific member of the ruling majority was Bozidar Jelovac from Nova, who spoke 61 times, including 21 discussions and 29 responses. He posed seven councilor questions and made four procedural reactions.

Another engaged participant was Bozidar Bajic from the Movement for Pljevlja, with 11 discussions and 22 responses recorded. He also made ten procedural interventions.

DPS Committee Club President Marko Tošić entered nine discussions, offered 20 responses, asked five councilor questions, commented once, and raised five procedural objections.

Marko Potparić (Nova) spoke 26 times, contributing to four discussions, responding 19 times, and making three procedural responses.

PES member Radoman Andesilić registered 14 responses and three discussions, while Democratic councilor Milojica Tešović had eight discussions, seven responses, and two councilor questions.

Dragisa Sokic (DPS) participated in 13 discussions and provided five replies, while former mayor turned DPS councilor Rajko Kovacevic contributed seven discussions, five responses, and asked three questions.

The least active opposition member was Amra Kecevic from the Bosniak Party, with just one response.

Among female councilors, the most active was DPS member Tanja Dragasevic, contributing 12 discussions, eight responses, posing three council questions, and reacting procedurally once.

Municipal Assembly President Jovana Tošić (Democrats) entered four discussions on agenda items, made three responses, and asked one councilor question.

Snezana Macanović (Nova) was involved in three discussions and provided two responses.

The fee increased from 270 to 360 euros.

The councilors’ remuneration, not accounting for participation in working bodies, was 270 euros from January to September and increased to 360 euros from October to December, representing 60 percent of the lowest wage in Montenegro.

The leaders of the councilor clubs receive slightly higher compensation, amounting to 65 percent of the minimum wage in the country, equivalent to 390 euros per month.

Councilors also earn compensation for their involvement in the Assembly’s committees and for attending citizens’ weddings on behalf of the Mayor.

For participation in parliamentary committee work, councilors receive an additional 3 percent of the lowest salary in Montenegro, totaling 18 euros per session.

For wedding attendance, councilors earn five percent of the lowest salary, or 30 euros for each day they participate in the marriage ceremony.

Councilors residing in rural areas are entitled to reimbursement for travel and official travel expenses equivalent to the cost of urban and suburban public transport, alongside a daily allowance for official travel within the country according to civil servant rates.

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