Ongoing disputes and conflicts within opposition parties are loser’s games and benefit the government. Socialists of Montenegro think that real opposition are parties and individuals who haven’t been in the Government for at least last two terms of office, said in the interview for CdM Ms Snežana Jonica, president of the Socialists.
CdM: You have said recently that you hope “many members of the opposition had childhood diseases”. Who did you mean exactly and what was your implication?
Ms Jonica: Everybody knows that ongoing disputes and conflicts within opposition parties are loser’s games and bring benefit only to the government.
You have never heard from the Socialists of Montenegro, and you never will, anything that fuels the fire of opposition divisions. We have never answered official or unofficial insults and attacks of some opposition counterparts because the best answer they can get is from t eh citizens telling them that it is hypocritical calling for the opposition union and denigrating some opposition party in the same sentence.
We don’t regard anyone in opposition as adversary or competition. On the contrary, we cherishing culture of dialogue and we are ready to give our hand to every form of cooperation for the sake of citizens.
CdM: Are these opposition leaders really that? What’s your definition of the opposition when we talk about the current political stage?
Ms Jonica: That’s a good question. Socialists of Montenegro believe real opponents, are those parties and individuals who haven’t been in the Government of Montenegro for the last two terms of office.
The most fervent opponents, crying over the social and economic problems of Montenegrin citizens can’t “sell” himself or herself as one. The one who was head of the Ministry of Interior in 2015, defending excessive use of force towards citizens who protested.
“Political corruption” can’t be criticized as state level and be partner the same problem at local level.
We cannot accept that biggest opponents of the government are those who present themselves as critics of the solutions they voted or tacitly accepted.
CdM: In your opinion, what is the greatest absurd on the political stage?
Ms Jonica: First and foremost, how tensions between Montenegro and Serbia are being fueled for the pre-election purposes.
It is incredible that state officials of both countries have such great private relations, but never have tensions between them been greater.
Obviously both governments need to camouflage some great weaknesses by preoccupying citizens with renews conflicts and quarrels.
CdM: What’s your comment on the package of measures Government adopted?
Ms Jonica: The pandemic has revealed the weaknesses of Montenegrin economy, primarily its dependence on the sector of services. When was the last time a factory was opened in Montenegro? Although “experts” have been convincing us for years that services are “in” and production “out”, only a couple of months of pandemic gave a clear answer to what is that we need for sustainable economy.
Every assistance and support is welcome. On the other side, having regard to the way part of activities and governing parties use state aid for pre-election purposes I can’t help but wonder – is the support financed by all of us or did governing parties male donations to the economy form the party budgets?
Another question is – when will the state analyze the position of the banking sector more thoroughly? Will it find some way to oblige that sector to contribute to incentive measures and conditions?
I will remind you that the funding gap amounts to €878 million. Borrowing that money would be an easy thing to do, but somebody must answer how and who will pay it back?
CdM: When it comes to salaries, pensions, social benefit, is Montenegrin system jeopardized and to what extent?
Ms Jonica: Out of 24 municipalities, in only 3 there are more pensioners and users of social benefits. The fact that 40% of the employed people in Montenegro have €250 of salary and that average pension is almost three times lower than minimal consumer basket (€654) is devastating.
And what is the response to that? Quarrels over who the traitor of Montenegro is and who the patriot is.
Citizens of Montenegro are fed up with great, “national” stories and small economic results. They are fed up with big subjects and empty wallets. We all have equal right to life and we can’t allow somebody to just survive and let others be above life.
CdM: Parliamentary and part of local elections will take place on 30 August. Were you surprise with the date?
Ms Jonica: No. I expected the date that is most convenient to the government. And this confirms what we have been aware of – that coronavirus period has brought to light not only economic but also political profiteers.
There’s a moment when people are insecure, worried about their health, their existence, and not sure if their working rights are respected. And when you attack Church which is the institution they mostly trust in, then all those political calculations can easily take another turn.
On the other side, there’s fact that number of unemployed persons amounted to 42.000 at the end of May, by 20% higher compared with the end of March. There’s also fact that great amount of employed people were exposed to brutal violation of labor rights. When you add to this brutal politization of the views of the National Coordination Body and when you realize that we are the first corona-free destination without bringing in the only key measure which could guarantee that we can remain corona-free destination – entering the state only with a negative PCR test.
I am asking NCB, why didn’t we say that first cases in March were imported from Spain or Britain? Why a cluster of infections is a motive for helping mitigate the consequences and why some funerals are occasions for spying, arresting or prosecuting?
And to spice it all up, there’s director of the police who sells the famous story of a cluster from religious processions but remains silent to the fact that police officers have exceeded their authorizations and used excessive force in Budva. Citizens understand what is hidden behind that story.
These are words that Socialists hear from our citizens on a daily basis. And it is my duty to convey their messages!
