Dritan Abazovic Calls for Cuts to Political Funding for Child Benefits

In a recent podcast, Dritan Abazovic, leader of the Civil Movement URA, criticized the Montenegrin government for prioritizing political funding over child benefits. He stated that the government is “taking from children so that the majority representatives can eat and drink well,” in response to a proposal from URA to increase child benefits and a counter-proposal from the PES to reduce political party financing.

Abazovic specifically suggested that the government should divert an additional €1 from child benefits to support political representatives, emphasizing the absurdity of such a measure. He expressed his support for the PES’s counter-proposal but highlighted its limitations, noting that it would only result in a minimal increase of €3.50 in child benefits, which he deemed insufficient.

The 2025 budget, according to Abazovic, allocates €25 million for a government aircraft and €20 million for consulting services. He argued that these funds could be better spent on increasing child benefits, which he believes should at least reach €30 per child, given that living costs have doubled in the past three years.

Abazovic pointed out that the current funding for political parties stands at around €15 million annually. He suggested that halving this amount could save approximately €7.5 million, which could then be redirected to support families with children. He urged the public to consider what he described as the “expert” recommendations from government officials.

During the podcast, Abazovic also made a sarcastic remark regarding citizens’ proposals to donate €1 for each parliamentarian who cannot afford basic sustenance. This comment underscored his belief that the government’s financial priorities are misaligned with the needs of the population.

Abazovic’s call to action reflects broader concerns about the adequacy of child support in Montenegro amid rising costs of living. As discussions on budget allocations continue, the focus remains on ensuring that essential services for families are not overshadowed by political expenditures.