Yahoo – AFP,
February 16, 2017
Podgorica
(Montenegro) (AFP) - Several thousand women demonstrated in Montenegro's
capital Podgorica on Thursday to protest cuts in subsidies for mothers with
three or more children.
The
protesters came from across Montenegro to gather in front of the main
government offices, demanding to meet with Prime Minister Dusko Markovic.
At one
point they broke through a metal fence to approach the heavily guarded
entrance. The women later vowed to spend the night outside the offices.
"We do
not want riots, we want to wait peacefully... that someone from the government
addresses us," said Zeljka Savkovic, one of the demonstrators.
The
government introduced the lifetime subsidies last October, but as of January 1
they have been cut by about 25 percent as Montenegro grapples with worsening
public finances.
About
18,500 women are eligible for the monthly payments, which are expected to cost
the government some 67 million euros ($71 million) a year.
The
reductions drew widespread criticism and the payments now range from 144 to 264
euros a month, in a country where the average monthly salary is 500 euros.
Banners at
the rally included slogans such as "We demand responsiblity" and
"Mothers for their children, for future, for justice".
Montenegro,
which is seeking to join NATO and is a candidate for EU membership, is under
pressure to improve its finances, with public debt standing at 62 percent of
GDP. It is struggling with more than 20 percent unemployment.
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